UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q


          / x /  Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998

                                       or

          /  /   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                 For the transition period from _______ to _______


                         Commission File No. 33-19659-01


                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                           75-2225738
-------------------------------                         ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                          Identification Number)

303 West Wall, Suite 101, Midland, Texas                         79701
----------------------------------------                      ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (915) 683-4768

                                 Not applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                Yes / x / No / /





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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                          Page
                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1998 and
             December 31, 1997   ........................................   3

          Statements of Operations for the three months
            ended March 31, 1998 and 1997................................   4

          Statement of Partners' Capital for the three months
            ended March 31, 1998.........................................   5

          Statements of Cash Flows for the three months
            ended March 31, 1998 and 1997................................   6

          Notes to Financial Statements..................................   7

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
            Condition and Results of Operations..........................   7


                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...............................  10

          27.1    Financial Data Schedule

          Signatures...................................................... 11


                                        2

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.   Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                                     March 31,     December 31,
                                                       1998            1997
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                    (Unaudited)
                 ASSETS
                 ------
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents, including interest
    bearing deposits of $152,249 at March 31 and
    $206,523 at December 31                        $   152,649     $    206,923
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales              120,645          153,707
                                                    ----------      -----------

         Total current assets                          273,294          360,630
                                                    ----------      -----------

Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method              10,092,072       10,083,265
Accumulated depletion                               (7,546,380)      (7,490,277)
                                                    ----------      -----------

         Net oil and gas properties                  2,545,692        2,592,988
                                                    ----------      -----------

                                                   $ 2,818,986     $  2,953,618
                                                    ==========      ===========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
-------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                     $    26,093     $     32,381

Partners' capital:
  Managing general partner                              28,171           29,454
  Limited partners (12,935 interests)                2,764,722        2,891,783
                                                    ----------      -----------

                                                     2,792,893        2,921,237
                                                    ----------      -----------

                                                   $ 2,818,986     $  2,953,618
                                                    ==========      ===========


  The financial information included as of March 31, 1998 has been prepared by
          management without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        3

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                         Three months ended
                                                              March 31,
                                                     -------------------------
                                                        1998            1997
                                                     ----------     ----------

Revenues:
   Oil and gas                                       $  231,037     $  330,871
   Interest                                               2,988          2,701
                                                      ---------      ---------

                                                        234,025        333,572
                                                      ---------      ---------
Costs and expenses:
   Oil and gas production                               139,250        140,747
   General and administrative                             6,931          9,926
   Depletion                                             56,103         63,018
                                                      ---------      ---------

                                                        202,284        213,691
                                                      ---------      ---------

Net income                                           $   31,741     $  119,881
                                                      =========      =========

Allocation of net income:
   Managing general partner                          $      317     $    1,199
                                                      =========      =========

   Limited partners                                  $   31,424     $  118,682
                                                      =========      =========

Net income per limited partnership interest          $     2.43     $     9.18
                                                      =========      =========

Distributions per limited partnership interest       $    12.25     $    14.69
                                                      =========      =========



   The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        4

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)




                                       Managing
                                        general       Limited
                                        partner       partners        Total
                                      ----------     ----------     ----------


Balance at January 1, 1998            $   29,454     $2,891,783     $2,921,237

    Distributions                         (1,600)      (158,485)      (160,085)

    Net income                               317         31,424         31,741
                                       ---------      ---------      ---------

Balance at March 31, 1998             $   28,171     $2,764,722     $2,792,893
                                       =========      =========      =========




   The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        5

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                           Three months ended
                                                                March 31,
                                                         ----------------------
                                                            1998         1997
                                                         ---------    ---------
Cash flows from operating activities:

  Net income                                             $  31,741    $ 119,881
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
       Depletion                                            56,103       63,018
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable                                  33,062       59,990
       Accounts payable                                     (6,288)       2,270
                                                          --------     --------

          Net cash provided by operating activities        114,618      245,159
                                                          --------     --------
Cash flows used in investing activities:
  Additions to oil and gas properties                       (8,807)     (10,427)

Cash flows used in financing activities:
  Cash distributions to partners                          (160,085)    (191,965)
                                                          --------     --------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       (54,274)      42,767
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period           206,923      179,202
                                                          --------     --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period               $ 152,649    $ 221,969
                                                          ========     ========


   The financial information included herein has been prepared by management
                without audit by independent public accountants.

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        6

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 March 31, 1998
                                   (Unaudited)


Note 1.   Organization and nature of operations

Parker &  Parsley  88-A,  L.P.  (the  "Partnership")  is a  limited  partnership
organized in 1988 under the laws of the State of Delaware.

The Partnership  engages  primarily in oil and gas development and production in
Texas and is not involved in any industry segment other than oil and gas.

Note 2.   Basis of presentation

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements as of March 31,
1998 of the Partnership  include all adjustments and accruals consisting only of
normal recurring accrual adjustments which are necessary for a fair presentation
of the results for the interim  period.  However,  these interim results are not
necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The  financial  statements  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial
statements and the notes thereto contained in the  Partnership's  Report on Form
10-K for the year ended  December 31,  1997,  as filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission,  a copy of which is  available  upon request by writing to
Rich Dealy,  Vice President and Chief  Accounting  Officer,  5205 North O'Connor
Boulevard, 1400 Williams Square West, Irving, Texas 75039-3746.

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations(1)

Results of Operations

Revenues:

The Partnership's  oil and gas revenues  decreased 30% to $231,037 from $330,871
for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The decrease
in revenues  resulted from lower average prices received,  offset by an increase
in production.  For the three months ended March 31, 1998, 9,979 barrels of oil,
5,207  barrels of natural gas liquids  ("NGLs") and 25,269 mcf of gas were sold,
or 19,398 barrel of oil equivalents  ("BOEs").  For the three months ended March
31, 1997, 10,229 barrels of oil and 39,429 mcf of gas were sold, or 16,801 BOEs.

As of September 30, 1997, the Partnership began accounting for processed natural
gas   production  as  processed   natural  gas  liquids  and  dry  residue  gas.
Consequently,  separate product volumes will not be comparable for periods prior
to September 30, 1997.  Also,  prices for gas products will not be comparable as
the price per mcf for natural gas for the three  months  ended March 31, 1998 is


                                        7

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the price received for dry residue gas and the price per mcf for natural gas for
the three months ended March 31, 1997 is a price for wet gas (i.e.,  natural gas
liquids combined with dry residue gas).

The average  price  received per barrel of oil  decreased  $6.44,  or 29%,  from
$21.84 for the three  months  ended March 31, 1997 to $15.40 for the same period
in 1998.  The average price  received per barrel of NGLs during the three months
ended  March 31,  1998 was $7.18.  The  average  price  received  per mcf of gas
decreased  42% from $2.73  during the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1.58
for the same period in 1998. The market price for oil and gas has been extremely
volatile  in the past  decade,  and  management  expects  a  certain  amount  of
volatility to continue in the foreseeable  future. The Partnership may therefore
sell its future oil and gas  production  at average  prices lower or higher than
that received during the three months ended March 31, 1998.

During  most of 1997,  the  Partnership  benefitted  from  higher  oil prices as
compared to previous  years.  However,  during the fourth  quarter of 1997,  oil
prices began a downward  trend that has continued  into March 1998. On April 23,
1998, the market price for West Texas  intermediate crude was $13.80 per barrel.
A continuation of the oil price environment experienced during the first quarter
of 1998 will have an adverse effect on the Partnership's  revenues and operating
cash flow and could result in additional  decreases in the carrying value of the
Partnership's oil and gas properties.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses  decreased to $202,284 for the three months ended March
31,  1998 as compared  to  $213,691  for the same period in 1997,  a decrease of
$11,407,  or 5%. The  decrease  was due to  declines in  depletion,  general and
administrative expenses ("G&A") and production costs.

Production  costs were  $139,250  for the three  months ended March 31, 1998 and
$140,747  for the same  period in 1997,  resulting  in an $1,497  decrease.  The
decrease was due to decreases in production taxes, offset by an increase in well
maintenance costs.

G&A consists of independent accounting and engineering fees and managing general
partner  personnel and operating costs.  During this period,  G&A decreased,  in
aggregate,  30% from $9,926 for the three  months ended March 31, 1997 to $6,931
for the same period in 1998.

Depletion  was $56,103  for the three  months  ended March 31, 1998  compared to
$63,018 for the same period in 1997, a decrease of $6,916, or 11%. This decrease
was primarily  attributable to a reduction in the  Partnership's  net depletable
basis from charges taken in accordance  with  Statement of Financial  Accounting
Standards No. 121,  "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived  Assets and for
Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed Of" ("SFAS 121") during the fourth  quarter of
1997 and a reduction in oil production of 250 barrels for the period ended March
31,  1998  compared  to the same  period in 1997,  offset  by a  decline  in oil
reserves  during  the three  months  ended  March 31,  1998 as a result of lower
commodity prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Net cash  provided by  operating  activities  decreased  $130,541  for the three
months ended March 31, 1998 from the same period in 1997.  This decrease was due
to a decline in oil and gas sales  receipts and an increase in production  costs
paid, offset by decrease in G&A expenses paid.

                                        8

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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

The Partnership's  principal investing  activities during the three months ended
March 31, 1998 and 1997 were related to the addition of oil and gas equipment on
active properties.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

Cash  was  sufficient  for the  three  months  ended  March  31,  1998 to  cover
distributions to the partners of $160,085 of which $1,600 was distributed to the
managing  general  partner and  $158,485 to the limited  partners.  For the same
period  ended March 31,  1997,  cash was  sufficient  for  distributions  to the
partners of $191,965 of which $1,920 was  distributed  to the  managing  general
partner and $190,045 to the limited partners.

It is expected  that future net cash  provided by operating  activities  will be
sufficient for any capital expenditures and any distributions. As the production
from the properties declines, distributions are also expected to decrease.

Information systems for the year 2000

The managing general partner will be required to modify its information  systems
in order to  accurately  process  Partnership  data  referencing  the year 2000.
Because of the importance of occurrence  dates in the oil and gas industry,  the
consequences of not pursuing these  modifications  could be very  significant to
the Partnership's ability to manage and report operating activities.  Currently,
the managing general partner plans to contract with third parties to perform the
software  programming  changes  necessary to correct any existing  deficiencies.
Such programming  changes are anticipated to be completed and tested by March 1,
1999. The managing  general  partner will allocate a portion of the costs of the
year 2000 programming  charges to the Partnership when they are incurred,  along
with recurring general and administrative  expenses.  Although the costs are not
estimable at this time, they should not be significant to the Partnership.

---------------

(1)    "Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
       Results of Operations"  contains forward looking  statements that involve
       risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that the
       actual  events and  results  will not be  materially  different  than the
       anticipated results described in the forward looking statements.




                                       9

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                           Part II. Other Information


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  Exhibits

     27.1    Financial Data Schedule

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     (1)     On April 2, 1998,  the  Partnership  filed a Current Report on Form
             8-K dated  March 31,  1998,  reporting  under  Item 4  (Changes  in
             Registrant's  Certifying  Accountants)  the  engagement  of Ernst &
             Young  LLP  as  the  Partnership's  independent  auditors  and  the
             dismissal of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP effective upon the completion of
             the audit of the  Partnership  for the fiscal year ending  December
             31, 1997.


                                       10

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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)



                               S I G N A T U R E S



       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                             PARKER & PARSLEY 88-A, L.P.

                                    By:      Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
                                              Managing General Partner



Dated:  May 4, 1998                 By:      /s/ Rich Dealy
                                             --------------
                                             Rich Dealy, Vice President
                                               and Chief Accounting Officer


                                       11

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