BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1998

56 highest-rated books first published in 1998.

← 19971999 →

Why A Clash of Kings is #1

A Clash of Kings (George R. R. Martin) scores 8.7/10 from 3.6K ratings — 0.2 points ahead of Transmetropolitan 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. A Clash of Kings
    A Clash of KingsGeorge R. R. Martin · 1998NYT bestseller Fantasy3.6K ratings
    8.78.7 / 10
  2. Transmetropolitan
    TransmetropolitanWarren Ellis · 1998 Comics182 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  3. Tales of Dunk and Egg
    Tales of Dunk and EggGeorge R. R. Martin · 1998 Fantasy632 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  4. Parable of the Talents
    Parable of the TalentsOctavia E. Butler · 1998 Science fiction360 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJ. K. Rowling · 1998Filmed 2002 Fantasy8.2K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  6. Ship of Magic
    Ship of MagicRobin Hobb · 1998 Fantasy658 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  7. Cities of the Plain
    Cities of the PlainCormac McCarthy · 199881 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  8. The Hedge Knight
    The Hedge KnightGeorge R. R. Martin · 1998 Fantasy221 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  9. Holes
    HolesLouis Sachar · 1998 Middle grade1.6K ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  10. The Poisonwood Bible
    The Poisonwood BibleBarbara Kingsolver · 1998 Historical fiction550 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  11. Sharpe's Fortress
    Sharpe's FortressBernard Cornwell · 1998 Historical fiction62 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  12. Beyond the Deepwoods
    Beyond the DeepwoodsPaul Stewart · 1998 Fantasy65 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  13. How to Cook Everything
    How to Cook EverythingMark Bittman · 199867 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  14. Sailing to Sarantium
    Sailing to SarantiumGuy Gavriel Kay · 1998 Fantasy86 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  15. Komarr
    KomarrLois McMaster Bujold · 1998 Science fiction149 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  16. Carpe Jugulum
    Carpe JugulumTerry Pratchett · 1998 Fantasy398 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  17. The Soulforge
    The SoulforgeMargaret Weis · 1998 Fantasy53 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  18. Daja's Book
    Daja's BookTamora Pierce · 1998 Fantasy103 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  19. Sharpe's Triumph
    Sharpe's TriumphBernard Cornwell · 1998 Historical fiction67 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  20. Marlfox
    MarlfoxBrian Jacques · 1998 Fantasy69 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  21. The Last Continent
    The Last ContinentTerry Pratchett · 1998 Fantasy375 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  22. A Knight of the Word
    A Knight of the WordTerry Brooks · 1998 Fantasy56 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  23. Green Rider
    Green RiderKristen Britain · 1998 Fantasy136 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  24. Roverandom
    RoverandomJ. R. R. Tolkien · 1998 Fantasy67 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  25. Dark Lord of Derkholm
    Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones · 1998 Fantasy76 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  26. Tris's Book
    Tris's BookTamora Pierce · 1998 Fantasy111 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  27. Shards of a Broken Crown
    Shards of a Broken CrownRaymond E. Feist · 1998 Fantasy103 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  28. Inversions
    InversionsIain Banks · 1998 Science fiction227 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  29. The Coffin Dancer
    The Coffin DancerJeffery Deaver · 1998 Crime & mystery90 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  30. A Walk in the Woods
    A Walk in the WoodsBill Bryson · 1998NYT bestseller68 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  31. Among the Hidden
    Among the HiddenMargaret Peterson Haddix · 1998 Science fiction164 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  32. Children of God
    Children of GodMary Doria Russell · 1998 Science fiction124 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  33. The Masterharper of Pern
    The Masterharper of PernAnne McCaffrey · 1998 Science fiction85 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  34. Gone, Baby, Gone
    Gone, Baby, GoneDennis Lehane · 1998 Crime & mystery79 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  35. Krondor: The Betrayal
    Krondor: The BetrayalRaymond E. Feist · 1998 Fantasy89 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  36. Foundation and Chaos
    Foundation and ChaosGreg Bear · 1998 Science fiction78 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  37. River of Blue Fire
    River of Blue FireTad Williams · 1998 Science fiction116 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  38. One False Move
    One False MoveHarlan Coben · 1998 Crime & mystery61 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  39. Four to Score
    Four to ScoreJanet Evanovich · 1998 Crime & mystery141 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  40. Rainbow Six
    Rainbow SixTom Clancy · 1998 Thriller230 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  41. The Simple Truth
    The Simple TruthDavid Baldacci · 1998 Crime & mystery50 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  42. Point of Origin
    Point of OriginPatricia Cornwell · 1998 Crime & mystery54 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  43. Heartfire
    HeartfireOrson Scott Card · 1998 Fantasy63 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  44. Fear Nothing
    Fear NothingDean Koontz · 1998 Thriller87 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  45. King Rat
    King RatChina Miéville · 1998 Fantasy56 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  46. The Path of Daggers
    The Path of DaggersRobert Jordan · 1998 Fantasy982 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  47. Die Trying
    Die TryingLee Child · 1998 Thriller526 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  48. Bag of Bones
    Bag of BonesStephen King · 1998 Horror367 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  49. Cockroaches
    CockroachesJo Nesbø · 1998 Crime & mystery151 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  50. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
    The No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyAlexander McCall Smith · 1998 Crime & mystery260 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  51. Blue Moon
    Blue MoonLaurell K. Hamilton · 1998 Horror131 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  52. Who Moved My Cheese?
    Who Moved My Cheese?Spencer Johnson · 1998 Business545 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  53. The Vampire Armand
    The Vampire ArmandAnne Rice · 1998 Horror160 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  54. Glamorama
    GlamoramaBret Easton Ellis · 1998 Thriller64 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  55. Pandora
    PandoraAnne Rice · 1998 Horror93 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  56. Digital Fortress
    Digital FortressDan Brown · 1998 Thriller1.3K ratings
    7.07.0 / 10

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