The Realm Past the Horizon of Merethin is a mammoth, efficient nation, ruled by Iris with a fair hand, and notable for its national health service, compulsory vegetarianism, and rampant corporate plagiarism. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 5.499 billion Merethinians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The enormous, 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 98.7%.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth a remarkable 1,072 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 impressive 195,078 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The nation's museums are real penny-pinchers, children wondering what happens to pets after they die are shown where the compost heap is, a blood-red mark on the doorframe means a building must be passed over for destruction, and homes without staircases are considered a step up in luxury. 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 1,196^th in the world and 6^th in Starlight for Most Developed, scoring 98.4 on the Human Development Index.