The Swirling Stars of Merethin is a mammoth, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Iris with a fair hand, and notable for its infamous sell-swords, soft-spoken computers, and daily referendums. The compassionate, democratic, cheerful population of 5.922 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 99.4%.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth a remarkable 1,253 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 211,642 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Iris's iHouse is so intelligent that it manages its own social media accounts, the streets are ravaged by murder and violence to prove political points, the green glow is a sign of clean energy, and they who do not work shall not eat. 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 275,466^th in the world and 292^nd in Starlight for Largest Black Market, with 83.0 billion Standard Monetary Units.