Best American Short Stories, 1988

by Mark Helprin

Presents a collection of stories selected from magazines in the United States and Canada

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Anthologies

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 1988

About the author

Mark Helprin belongs to no literary school, movement, tendency, or trend. As many have observed and as Time Magazine has phrased it, “He lights his own way.” His three collections of short stories (A Dove of the East and Other Stories, Ellis Island and Other Stories, and The Pacific and Other Stories), six novels (Refiner's Fire, Winter's Tale, A Soldier of the Great War, Memoir From Antproof Case, Freddy and Fredericka and, In Sunlight and In Shadow), and three children's books (Swan Lake, A City in Winter, and The Veil of Snows, all illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg), speak eloquently for themselves and are remarkable throughout for the sustained beauty and power of their language.

Reviews

[David B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't agree with guest editor Mark Helprin on all of his choices in this edition of the venerable anthology series (such as Robert Lacy's "The Natural Father"), but there is certainly some excellent reading here. For my money, the highlights are "Entrechat," by Edith Milton and "The Water-Faucet Vision," by Gish Jen.

https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

where I discovered Rick Bass

[Billie Pritchett · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite of The Best American Short Stories 1988 is Tobias Wolff's "Smorgasbord." Wolff is a great storyteller. As much as I liked some of the other stories in the book, Wolff comes along and blows everybody out of the water. "Smorgasbord" is a story about some boarding school kids and their loss of innocence. It's a heartbreaking little story. Other stories I really liked in the collection: There's Richard Bausch's "Police Dreams," which is about a policeman's nightmare. Gish Jen's "The Water-Faucet Vision" involves a Chinese-American girl, first-generation, in a Catholic school who takes her religion so seriously that she creates little rituals for herself. Robert Lacy's "The Natural Father" is about a soldier in the fifties who doesn't want to take care of his girlfriend after she gets pregnant; Lacy's protagonist seems emotionally stupid but somehow it works. Raymond Carver's "Errand" tells the story of Anton Chekhov's death and his wife's response to it, and this one is just all right. I like Ralph Lombreglia a lot, and this story "Inn Essence" is pretty fun, about a guy who has illegal Indians working at his restaurant; Lombreglia seems like an old-fashioned storyteller, the type you meet who can sit down and speak out a story, not just write it. Oh man, "The Taming Power of the Small" by Will Blythe is creepy; two deadbeats steal a kid to ransom him, but they don't know how to do it, and one of the deadbeats has an obsession with the I Ching as guide to life. The last story I liked a lot is Robert Stone's "Helping." It is really quite good, though pretty long. A Vietnam vet relapses. This last one was so good, it was included in 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories .

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, these editions are just the best. I hit one or two stories that were a little understimulating for me, and I thought about taking a break after those, but thankfully signed that feeling off to cowardice and kept pushing. The second batch of stories was even better: Lucy Honig's "No Friends, All Strangers" is now one of my favorite stories -- the most poignant account of loneliness in a big city that I've ever read. Wolff's "Smorgasboard" and Stone's "Helping" get honorable mentions.

[Paolo Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

"All friends, no strangers" by Lucy Honig is one of the best short stories I have ever read. I am still thinking about the details in her writing.

Overall a good collection. Some very strong stories.

3.5 stars.

[Dawn Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story in this book was good

[Bella Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag, but aren’t we all

[Honey Gastauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the stories are melancholy to dark. Depending on your mood—moderately entertaining.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another strong set of stories. Whatever one thinks about Helprin's opinions, he knows the difference between a good story and a great one -- in fact, he anonymized the authors' names during his selection process to avoid any personal biases -- and so this edition was loaded with riches. My favorites, in rough order of preference:

Raymond Carver - "Errand"
Rick Bass - "Cats and Students, Bubbles and Abysses"
Robert Stone - "Helping"
Ralph Lombreglia - "Inn Essence"
C. S. Godshalk - "Wonderland"
Lucy Honig - "No Friends, All Strangers"
Brian Kiteley - "Still Life with Insects"
Louise Erdrich - "Snares"

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many people hurt their spouses by not communicating their feelings in full. Children often see right through adults.


Not part of my review: I always like it when Eddie rolls his eyes and waves me away when I ask for the price on something absurd like a beat up and dog eared copy of The Best American Short Stories of 1988.

[David Bonesteel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't agree with guest editor Mark Helprin on all of his choices in this edition of the venerable anthology series (such as Robert Lacy's "The Natural Father"), but there is certainly some excellent reading here. For my money, the highlights are "Entrechat," by Edith Milton and "The Water-Faucet Vision," by Gish Jen .

[Kai Sousa]

This was an interesting gift from a stranger. Got to talking to the man next to me on the bus one day about books and authors and he gave me this book as he was getting off the bus.

[Rudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Water-Faucet Vision by Gish Jen is exquisite.