Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
The novel follows two Indian actors who miraculously survive a plane explosion, and as a result, find themselves embodying good and evil. As they navigate their new identities, the story also delves into the life of a prophet and his creation of a new religion in a city of sand. The narrative is a blend of fantasy and reality, exploring themes of identity, religion, and the immigrant experience, while also providing a controversial interpretation of Islamic faith and the life of Prophet Muhammad.
The 534th greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
List Date Penalty Feature
In our continuous effort to provide the most accurate and fair rankings, we have introduced a new feature: the List Date Penalty. This feature aims to reduce recency bias in our rankings by applying a penalty to books based on their publication dates relative to the list's publication date.
How It Works
- Publication Date Comparison: For each book on a list, we compare its publication date to the publication date of the list.
-
Penalty Application:
- Maximum Penalty: If a book was published in the same year as the list, it receives the maximum penalty, as we believe it hasn't had enough time to stand the test of time.
- Proportional Penalty: Books that were published in the years leading up to the list's publication date receive a proportional penalty based on the number of years they have been available.
- No Penalty: Books that were published more than a specified number of years (max age for penalty) before the list's publication date do not receive any penalty, acknowledging their enduring relevance and influence.
Why This Matters
By mitigating recency bias, the List Date Penalty feature helps to ensure that books that have had more time to be evaluated by readers and critics are given their due weight. This results in a more equitable and historically balanced ranking that truly reflects the greatest books of all time.
Total Points: 676
This book was first published in 1988
21 Lists
- score: 96 -- 25 acclaimed international writers choose 25 of the best books from the last 25 years - 2013 (Weight: 160)
- score: 93 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 83 -- The 100 Stories that Shaped the World - 2019 (Weight: 120)
- score: 80 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 79 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 60 -- Books that Shaped the Century - 2020 (Weight: 80)
- score: 51 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) - 2026 (Weight: 60)
- score: 29 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 80)
- score: 28 -- Books of the Decade (1980s) - 1989 (Weight: 107)
- score: 26 -- Cape Coral Public Library's Must-Read Books for the Summer - 2001 (Weight: 61)
- score: 16 -- NY Times Editors Choice 1980-1989 - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 79)
- score: 10 -- The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Readers' List - 1998 (Weight: 30)
- score: 7 -- The Books of Our Time - 2016 (Weight: 11)
- score: 6 -- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 - 2012 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Edmonton's Top 100 - 1998 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Costa Book Award - Best Novel - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- A Century of Reading - 2018 (Weight: 1)