The "Ciaphas Cain" series by Sandy Mitchell. Humor in the W40K universe.
Cain is a commissar attached to the Imperial Guard and, mostly by accident, he's acquired a reputation as one of the greatest heroes the Imperium has. He's trying to find someplace quiet to stay until the shooting stops, but tends to find out he's tried to hide in the enemy's headquarters. Then he either captures or kills that enemy, and his reputation for selfless courage goes up another notch. "Inspiring leadership", too -- soldiers talking about him use that one a lot, but for the most part, the stories are narrated by Cain, so we know what he was really thinking. Despite him being a commissar, the troops and officers are glad to have him around, because they all believe he's such a hero. He is very smart and resourceful, and very, very good in a fight.
The first three books (For the Emperor, Caves of Ice, and The Traitor's Hand) were recently collected, together with three short stories, in the omnibus Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium. The other two books are a prequel, Death or Glory, and the most recent, Duty Calls, which actually occurs between Caves of Ice and The Traitor's Hand.
The author throws in lots of in-jokes, such as a reference to a Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Horatio Bugler, movie quotes which the characters obviously don't know are quotes, or a reference to "Arbitrator Foreboding, a popular holo character of the time, who battled criminals, heretics, and mutants with relish and a very big gun." One of my favorites is a pessimistic quotation attributed to "Eyor Dedonki."
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Big Brother is watching you. And damn, you are so bloody BORING.
Cain is a commissar attached to the Imperial Guard and, mostly by accident, he's acquired a reputation as one of the greatest heroes the Imperium has. He's trying to find someplace quiet to stay until the shooting stops, but tends to find out he's tried to hide in the enemy's headquarters. Then he either captures or kills that enemy, and his reputation for selfless courage goes up another notch. "Inspiring leadership", too -- soldiers talking about him use that one a lot, but for the most part, the stories are narrated by Cain, so we know what he was really thinking. Despite him being a commissar, the troops and officers are glad to have him around, because they all believe he's such a hero. He is very smart and resourceful, and very, very good in a fight.
The first three books (For the Emperor, Caves of Ice, and The Traitor's Hand) were recently collected, together with three short stories, in the omnibus Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium. The other two books are a prequel, Death or Glory, and the most recent, Duty Calls, which actually occurs between Caves of Ice and The Traitor's Hand.
The author throws in lots of in-jokes, such as a reference to a Captain (later Fleet Admiral) Horatio Bugler, movie quotes which the characters obviously don't know are quotes, or a reference to "Arbitrator Foreboding, a popular holo character of the time, who battled criminals, heretics, and mutants with relish and a very big gun." One of my favorites is a pessimistic quotation attributed to "Eyor Dedonki."
-----
Big Brother is watching you. And damn, you are so bloody BORING.