The Space Empire of Starwave is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, ruled by Varyn Solvex with an iron fist, and renowned for its pith helmet sales, compulsory military service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 5.919 billion Anacharsians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Dalkhabi. The average income tax rate is 44.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The strong Anacharsian economy, worth 365 trillion Anachieses a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Information Technology, and Gambling. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 61,710 Anachieses, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Requests to "pass the salt" are supported by tank divisions, murder is sanctioned if the legal paperwork is filled out correctly, new research always seems to support government initiatives, and the government regularly reassures citizens that there are no monsters under their beds. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Starwave's national animal is the Hawk, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Lobsterism.

Starwave is ranked 51,974^th in the world and 2,584^th in Osiris for Most Cultured, scoring 71 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.