BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1985

33 highest-rated books first published in 1985.

← 19841986 →

Why Lonesome Dove is #1

Lonesome Dove (Larry McMurtry) scores 9.1/10 from 631 ratings — 0.3 points ahead of Ender's Game in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Lonesome Dove
    Lonesome DoveLarry McMurtry · 1985631 ratings
    9.19.1 / 10
  2. Ender's Game
    Ender's GameOrson Scott Card · 1985NYT bestseller Science fiction4.9K ratings1
    8.88.8 / 10
  3. The Handmaid's Tale
    The Handmaid's TaleMargaret Atwood · 1985NYT bestsellerFilmed 2017 Dystopian3.7K ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  4. Robots and Empire
    Robots and EmpireIsaac Asimov · 1985 Science fiction336 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  5. Contact
    ContactCarl Sagan · 1985 Science fiction703 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  6. The Polar Express
    The Polar ExpressChris Van Allsburg · 1985 Children’s books171 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  7. The White Rose
    The White RoseGlen Cook · 1985 Fantasy179 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  8. Blood Meridian
    Blood MeridianCormac McCarthy · 1985 Historical fiction823 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  9. Boy: Tales of Childhood
    Boy: Tales of ChildhoodRoald Dahl · 1985 Biography & memoir213 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. Perfume
    PerfumePatrick Süskind · 1985Filmed 2006 Historical fiction1.1K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  11. Talking to Dragons
    Talking to DragonsPatricia Wrede · 1985 Fantasy114 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  12. Silverthorn
    SilverthornRaymond E. Feist · 1985 Fantasy398 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  13. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
    The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a HatOliver Sacks · 1985 Popular science567 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. Dragons of Winter Night
    Dragons of Winter NightMargaret Weis · 1985 Fantasy241 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  15. The Vampire Lestat
    The Vampire LestatAnne Rice · 1985 Horror561 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  16. The Cyberiad
    The CyberiadStanisław Lem · 1985 Science fiction123 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  17. Tailchaser's Song
    Tailchaser's SongTad Williams · 1985 Fantasy61 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  18. Sarah, Plain and Tall
    Sarah, Plain and TallPatricia MacLachlan · 1985Filmed 1991 Historical fiction100 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  19. If Tomorrow Comes
    If Tomorrow ComesSidney Sheldon · 1985 Crime & mystery88 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  20. Blood Music
    Blood MusicGreg Bear · 1985 Science fiction161 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  21. The Wishsong of Shannara
    The Wishsong of ShannaraTerry Brooks · 1985 Fantasy170 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  22. Galápagos
    GalápagosKurt Vonnegut · 1985 Science fiction311 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  23. With a Tangled Skein
    With a Tangled SkeinPiers Anthony · 1985 Fantasy100 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  24. Eon
    EonGreg Bear · 1985 Science fiction189 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  25. The Bachman Books
    The Bachman BooksStephen King · 1985 Horror167 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  26. The Mammoth Hunters
    The Mammoth HuntersJean M. Auel · 1985 Historical fiction139 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  27. Footfall
    FootfallLarry Niven · 1985 Science fiction93 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  28. Skeleton Crew
    Skeleton CrewStephen King · 1985 Horror355 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  29. The Ruby in the Smoke
    The Ruby in the SmokePhilip Pullman · 1985Filmed 2006 Crime & mystery117 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  30. "B" Is for Burglar
    "B" Is for BurglarSue Grafton · 1985 Crime & mystery76 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  31. Chapterhouse: Dune
    Chapterhouse: DuneFrank Herbert · 1985 Science fiction438 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  32. Twilight Eyes
    Twilight EyesDean Koontz · 1985 Horror50 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  33. The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
    The Cat Who Walks Through WallsRobert A. Heinlein · 1985 Science fiction105 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10

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