The Swirling Stars of Merethin is a mammoth, safe nation, ruled by Iris with a fair hand, and renowned for its daily referendums, compulsory vegetarianism, and keen interest in outer space. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 5.934 billion Merethinians love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.

The enormous, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merethin City. The average income tax rate is 99.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth a remarkable 1,262 trillion golden coins a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is highly specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an amazing 212,780 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Super Barry Brothers is the most popular video game in the nation, modelling agencies send their clients to work in nursing homes, nobody looks each other in the eye at neighborhood block parties any more, and weekends are spent tilting at windmills. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Merethin's national animal is the axolotl, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Star Sister.

Merethin is ranked 1,555^th in the world and 8^th in Starlight for Safest, scoring 148.56 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.