Redninja, I like your boyfriend's taste =P

Warhammer40k is excellent. A bit of warning though, personally, I find the its universe very enthralling and very deep, and I find that most of the enjoyment I derive from reading the novels are due to the lore and the setting of the environment, not due to the plots cause some of them are really absurd (Space marine almost loses, GETS MIRACULOUS STRENGTH OMFG CHAOS PHAILS. Gets a bit stale after a while =(

If you are planning to get started in the W40kverse, do try Space Wolves. I've read a lot of BL novels, and I loved that series the most.

And snowcrash, I read Ender's Game due to your recommendation, and decided to venture on to Ender's Shadow.

Honestly, I loved Ender's Shadow more than Ender's Game. Haven't tried the others, hopefully they're not as bad as you say they are =)

Do try Childhood's End as well. Excellent novel, though the complete lack of action might turn some people off.

Cheers.