BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1988

40 highest-rated books first published in 1988.

← 19871989 →

Why Matilda is #1

Matilda (Roald Dahl) scores 8.5/10 from 1.4K ratings — level with V for Vendetta at one decimal, and ahead on the exact score.

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. Matilda
    MatildaRoald Dahl · 1988 Children’s books1.4K ratings1
    8.58.5 / 10
  2. V for Vendetta
    V for VendettaAlan Moore · 1988 Graphic novels1K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  3. The Player of Games
    The Player of GamesIain Banks · 1988 Science fiction818 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  4. A Brief History of Time
    A Brief History of TimeStephen Hawking · 1988NYT bestseller Popular science1.3K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  5. The Silence of the Lambs
    The Silence of the LambsThomas Harris · 1988 Crime & mystery842 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  6. The Devil's Arithmetic
    The Devil's ArithmeticJane Yolen · 1988 Historical fiction74 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  7. The Lives of Christopher Chant
    The Lives of Christopher ChantDiana Wynne Jones · 1988 Fantasy92 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  8. Lioness Rampant
    Lioness RampantTamora Pierce · 1988 Fantasy217 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  9. Fallen Angels
    Fallen AngelsWalter Dean Myers · 1988 Young adult59 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. The Legend of Huma
    The Legend of HumaRichard A. Knaak · 1988 Fantasy64 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  11. Mossflower
    MossflowerBrian Jacques · 1988 Fantasy235 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  12. Sharpe's Rifles
    Sharpe's RiflesBernard Cornwell · 1988 Historical fiction61 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  13. Adulthood Rites
    Adulthood RitesOctavia E. Butler · 1988 Science fiction204 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. Wyrd Sisters
    Wyrd SistersTerry Pratchett · 1988Filmed 1997 Fantasy888 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. Catwings
    CatwingsUrsula K. Le Guin · 1988 Fantasy50 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  16. Prelude to Foundation
    Prelude to FoundationIsaac Asimov · 1988 Science fiction518 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  17. The Crystal Shard
    The Crystal ShardR. A. Salvatore · 1988 Fantasy333 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  18. Arrow's Fall
    Arrow's FallMercedes Lackey · 1988 Fantasy74 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  19. Dragonsdawn
    DragonsdawnAnne McCaffrey · 1988 Science fiction123 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  20. For Love of Evil
    For Love of EvilPiers Anthony · 1988 Fantasy69 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  21. The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
    The Long Dark Tea-Time of the SoulDouglas Adams · 1988 Fantasy501 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  22. King of the Murgos
    King of the MurgosDavid Eddings · 1988 Fantasy196 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  23. Mona Lisa Overdrive
    Mona Lisa OverdriveWilliam Gibson · 1988 Science fiction463 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  24. Treasure
    TreasureClive Cussler · 1988 Adventure226 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  25. The Satanic Verses
    The Satanic VersesSalman Rushdie · 1988 Literary fiction197 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  26. Dragon Prince
    Dragon PrinceMelanie Rawn · 1988 Fantasy58 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  27. The Demon Lord of Karanda
    The Demon Lord of KarandaDavid Eddings · 1988 Fantasy169 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  28. The Dragonbone Chair
    The Dragonbone ChairTad Williams · 1988 Fantasy413 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  29. Lightning
    LightningDean Koontz · 1988 Science fiction113 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  30. Wizard at Large
    Wizard at LargeTerry Brooks · 1988 Fantasy71 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  31. Sourcery
    SourceryTerry Pratchett · 1988 Fantasy846 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  32. Red Prophet
    Red ProphetOrson Scott Card · 1988 Fantasy105 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  33. Falling Free
    Falling FreeLois McMaster Bujold · 1988 Science fiction196 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  34. Eternity
    EternityGreg Bear · 1988 Science fiction55 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  35. Cabal
    CabalClive Barker · 1988 Horror87 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  36. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
    The Mysteries of PittsburghMichael Chabon · 1988 Contemporary fiction79 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  37. The Queen of the Damned
    The Queen of the DamnedAnne Rice · 1988 Horror411 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  38. Zodiac
    ZodiacNeal Stephenson · 1988 Thriller237 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  39. Burnt Offerings
    Burnt OfferingsLaurell K. Hamilton · 1988 Horror142 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  40. The Alchemist
    The AlchemistPaulo Coelho · 1988NYT bestseller Fantasy4.1K ratings
    7.27.2 / 10

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