Gaunt's Ghosts by Dan Abnett
This book really meets all of my criteria for a fun little light sci-fi book set in a universe I really don't have any expereince with, Warhammer 40k.
It does offr everything that I could possiblely want for some light entertainment, including: aliens, robots, warring human factions, and plenty of future tech.
I have been told that it is par for the course with 40k, but I noted that it is dark at times. It still did not hinder me becoming attached to several of the characters, both the good and the bad.
While I beleieved that much of the Warhammer 40k universe was written about the super-human space marines this book features the Imperial Guard and the Inquisition.
I'm currently reading the Gaunt series after a little bit of over indulgence in high sci-fi and I plan to try the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series which is also written by Dan Abnett and set in the 40k universe.
If you are like me and never really ventured into Warhammer you may want to give it a try. I was plesantly surprised.