The Best American Short Stories 1986, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by guest editor Raymond Carver with Shannon Ravenel.^[1]

The Kirkus Reviews’ reviewer of Carver’s anthology expressed disappointment in this year’s edition and concluded that there were only two "standout exceptions to the general fog, though—and their work should be looked for with real curiosity in the future. But, otherwise, tired nags ran this course, on the whole."^[2]

Short story writer and creative writing instructor K. L. Cook credits this anthology with his discovery and later acquaintance with Charles Baxter, one of the contributors, as well as his life-long addition to many other short story writers he first read in this volume.^[3] In a review of the collection and selected entries for the Florida Flambeau, Robyn Allers notes that not only does the volume contain some "real gems", but also "more important to short story fans, collections like this one … introduce readers to new writers who haven’t yet achieved the recognition that accompanies frequent publication in the mass-market glossies like The New Yorker, Esquire and The Atlantic."^[4] In The Boston Phoenix reviewer Tim Appelo noted that "It’s heartening to see up-and-comers crowd out big names, because it makes the collection fresher. These writers are young and hungry, and most of their work hits the spot."^[5]

• Best American Short Stories Archived 2010-07-04 at the Wayback Machine