Winner of the Spokane Prize in Fiction
Stories included have appeared in the Missouri Review, Raleigh Review, Sun Magazine, and the Best American Mystery Stories.
"Dark and mesmerizing, haunting." C.J. Box
Discover what the book is about:
From award-winning author Doug Crandell comes Equipment for the Darkness, a new collection of short stories set against the bleak, unrelenting landscape of rural Indiana. A young man braves a blizzard to save his sister. A small-town sheriff is haunted by the father of his childhood friend. Two brothers face the harsh reality of manhood and loss. Across eleven piercing tales, Crandell masterfully weaves together themes of isolation and connection, serenity and disruption; unflinchingly providing us the tools we need to survive the long, cold darkness.
Doug's playlist while writing the book!
Songs are like short stories: compact, narrative, and fun to share with others. Check out Doug's heavy rotation during the writing of the short stories in Equipment for the Darkness.
1) Ghosts of our Fathers by Otis Gibbs
2) Head West by Martin Zellar
3) Daniel by Joshua James
4) One by One by Julia Bullock
5) Sadly Beautiful by The Replacements
6) Des Moines by Jeffrey Foucault
7) Rogers Park by Justin Townes Earle
8) Going Home by Malcolm Holcombe
9) Dirty Old Town by The Pogues
10) The Getaway by The White Buffalo
An excerpt:
"I fell asleep, and the old familiar dream began again, scoured some, and in reverse: the massive barn beam retracting from the ground and sucked back up into the rafters, the sky going from wild and blurry back to a peaceful azure. The sparrows weren't hatched yet, and their speckled eggs, like antique porcelain, were bunched in a group, cradled in the beam divot with pieces of hay, tiny feathers, feedbag string, and a loop of Mom's yarn. The last image before waking was that of a calf, just born, legs wobbling, an axe hovering above its slim neck."
Stay up-to-date with Equipment for the Darkness:
Soon, in early 2026, Doug will appear in a few places and read from the book. This spot will be where the dates and locations will be announced. Stay tuned!
Can you match the photo to the story?
