Xer

Xer is a name used in various works of science fiction and fantasy, serving as a fictional character or entity in different contexts. There is no single canonical Xer; rather, the name is employed across genres as a concise, gender-neutral moniker that authors use for different beings, from rulers to researchers, or for technologies and artificial intelligences.

Etymology and use: The shorter form may be chosen for its memorable sound, or as an abbreviation of a longer name. In linguistic terms, the sequence xer- comes from the Greek xeros meaning dry, giving rise to words such as xeric and xerography; however, this root is not necessarily related to Xer's usage as a proper name in fiction.

In fiction, Xer's portrayal varies widely. Some depictions cast Xer as an enigmatic leader who commands loyalty, others present Xer as an adventurous or morally ambiguous figure, and still others as a nonhuman entity or artificial intelligence. Because the name is generic, Xer’s character is defined by the surrounding narrative rather than a fixed template, making it a versatile choice for new stories.

See also: xer- prefix; xerography; xeric.