The Hypercommunity of Almonaster is a titanic, genial nation, ruled by Al Khefi with a fair hand, and renowned for its rampant corporate plagiarism, complete lack of prisons, and multi-spousal wedding ceremonies. The compassionate, democratic population of 20.173 billion Asters hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ciudad del Monaster. The average income tax rate is 66.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Asterian economy, worth a remarkable 2,172 trillion Fracts a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Pizza Delivery. Average income is an impressive 107,703 Fracts, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The education system is being cleansed of all corporate influence, sweat stains are proof of political acumen, police officers outnumber pigeons in Ciudad del Monaster, and any citizen who cries is immediately assigned a psychiatrist. Crime is totally unknown. Almonaster's national animal is the Loon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is the holey socks.

Almonaster is ranked 185,817^th in the world and 89^th in Canada for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 19.38 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.