The Best American Short Stories 1988, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by Shannon Ravenel and by guest editor Mark Helprin. In announcing the publication of this annual edition, Publishers Weekly noted that it is an "at times inspired anthology which draws from small and big-gun literary magazines in equal measures [and] is heralded by a sonorous, sagacious introduction..." while the reviewer at Kirkus Reviews described Mark Helprin's introduction as a "John-Gardneresque screed."