Evan: A Remainder

by Jordan Kurella

In " A Remainder," a new original work of short fiction from Jordan Kurella, Evan is suddenly coughing up bones, like, A LOT of bones, but that’s not even in the top ten strangest things that have happened to him since he moved into his new (possibly haunted) duplex . . .At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fantasy, Queer, LGBT, Science Fiction Fantasy

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2024

About the author

Jordan Kurella has lived all over the world (including Moscow and Manhattan).

In his past lives, he was a photographer, radio DJ, and social worker. His work has been nominated for the Nebula Award and long-listed for the British Science Fantasy Award. He is the author of the fantasy novella, I NEVER LIKED YOU ANYWAY, the short story collection, WHEN I WAS LOST, and the climate fiction novella, THE DEATH OF MOUNTAINS. Jordan lives in limbo with his perfect dog and practical cat.

Reviews

[Anna Avian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story is a quirky and whimsical exploration of the supernatural and the absurd.

In my opinion, the story could have benefited from further development. The characters lacked depth, and the plot might have benefitted from more intricate elements.

While the story may not be for everyone, it might be intriguing for those who like to read horror-themed literature and something a bit out of the ordinary.

[Alina · Rating 2 out of 5]

not sure how to rate this, i lean towards 2, but i'll sleep on it

[Teeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

dunno what the fuck i just consumed but yeah!

[Ash]

How interesting…

[claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I stubled upon this. A Reminder is a quick and enjoyable short contemporary with supernatural touch and a unique allegory. Set during the pandemic lockdown, the story provides snippets of Evan's life during his transition, when strange things start happening to him.

[Beth N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, gruesome, quirky, spooky. A surprisingly light-hearted story about some heavy themes and digging (or coughing?) up the skeletons of the past.

[Chuck Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little ditty about a dude who coughs up bones but along the way learns to love himself and others. Like the bones & skeleton boyfriend.

I love how the author tackled a pretty heavy topic (transitioning genders and loving yourself) in a fun/original way with characters who were vibrant and original. I really enjoyed this one!

[Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly I have low tolerance towards weird fiction, but this was weird in the best possible way. Like Brand New Cherry Flavorishly so.
A great short story.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Anagha S Setlur · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a bizarre, creepy, unexpected story! I liked the premise a lot and took me only 20 mins to get through the story. So every different from what I actually like to read. Spooky, eerie, and out of the world.

[Kieran Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant short story. It's weird and surreal, but also quite grounded and funny, which is basically perfectly threading the needle for stories I like.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very, very weird.

Read it free here: https://reactormag.com/evan-a-remaind...

[rebekka · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 for interesting but failed metaphor. I liked the idea of what that skeleton symbolized, authentic. However, it didn't convey its core elements well. The plot seemed much like daily life fiction rather than fantasy. Disordered timeline is a good technique but it didn't fit into and it is used a bit too amateurish, or the author wanted it to be odd, perhaps? Either way it wasn't a strike.
I didn't like the ending. It needed more a strong and pervasive final.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Nice little story. I really enjoyed the metaphor for transition going on in this, albeit in a spooky, grotesque way. The weird mixing up of the timeline could have been dropped, I think I would have preferred it just be in a linear order.

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing short story but I can’t help but wonder what it all means. Is this a metaphor for burying yourself to be with someone you know isn’t right? Or coming to terms with even the dark, dirty parts that are deep in you? Or is this just a story of a man coughing up bones?

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story that didn't really catch my attention. It is about Evan, who suddenly begins to cough up bones, in a purportedly haunted house. Weirder things begin to happen when his partner leaves him and then eventually returns to find him in another relationship of a different kind.

[Alex Sarll]

Gradually coughing up a skeleton boyfriend over the course of a lockdown transition is a great central image, but the blasé, affectless narration saps a lot of the potential resonance.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not to my taste. I'm not saying it is bad, just not for me.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/evan-a-remaind...

[Emmalyn Renato · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was nominated for a Nebula award in 2025.

[Urgewyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what the hell I just read but it definitely was interesting and went places.

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/evan-a-remaind...

[Edward "Gryftkin" Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 4. Why? Because I still don't know if it's a 3 or a 5 :D This short story is weird. Oddly weird? Perfectly weird? I'm still not sure. Evan has decided they want to be a man. Their husband left them because he wasn't gay. Now Evan is alone with their cat, their weird hippy friend/neighbor Katie, and a blood stain that simply refuses to come up no matter what you use on it. Oh, and they're coughing up bones. Not their own bones, just bones. And it just gets weirder from there. In the end, very few questions are answered, but the unanswered questions actually make the story better. This story will take you like 15 minutes to read, tops. I'll let you make up your own mind ;)

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nebula award finalist for best short story:
Evan: A Remainder by Jordan Kurella - okay