edgean

Edgean is a term used in speculative fiction and world-building to denote either a conceptual framework or a geographic locale associated with frontier or periphery. In technological contexts within fictional settings, Edgean refers to a distributed edge computing paradigm in which devices located close to data sources coordinate through lightweight consensus protocols, aiming to minimize latency, preserve privacy, and reduce central dependency. The Edgean model often emphasizes modular governance, dynamic role assignment, and resilience against central failures, with interoperability across heterogeneous devices.

In geographic or political fantasy contexts, Edgean designates a borderland region or city-state situated at the edge of a continent or kingdom. Such locales are typically portrayed as hubs of trade and cultural exchange, where diverse communities meet, conflict, and cooperate. Edgean cities are commonly imagined as places of innovation, with hybrid architectures, and contested sovereignty between larger powers.

Etymology: The name appears to combine the English word edge with the suffix -an, yielding a sense of peripheral location. It has been used sporadically since the late 2010s in collaborative fiction projects and role-playing settings. Variants such as Edgeon or Edgan appear in some texts.

See also: edge computing, distributed systems, borderlands, speculative fiction.