Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

In a world where magic is both wondrous and perilous, a young woods guide named Richard Cypher embarks on a monumental quest after his father's murder leads him to the discovery of his own latent magical abilities. Guided by a mysterious woman named Kahlan and a wizard named Zedd, Richard must navigate treacherous lands and confront a malevolent tyrant who seeks to enslave the world. As he grapples with his destiny as the Seeker of Truth, he learns that love, like magic, comes with a price, and that the titular rule—trust no one—may be the most important lesson of all.

The 5395th 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.

Total Points: 111

Since this book was first published in 1994, there is a penalty of 32.0%. The age adjusted score is 75.48.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.