The Sovereign Isle of Nova Zemlya is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by Primer Ductus Alia Arxemet with a fair hand, and remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, hatred of cheese, and devotion to social welfare. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 27.523 billion Zemlyans enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The enormous, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Environment, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Arthane. The average income tax rate is 81.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Nova Zemlyan economy, worth a remarkable 2,743 trillion drosses a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology and Gambling. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 99,696 drosses, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Foreign nations often blame poverty and terrorism on Nova Zemlyan selfishness, artists attempt to convince the Hardship Fund that their unmade bed is a masterpiece, delivery truck companies use hospital parking lots to store 16-wheelers, and every workday begins with group therapy. Crime is totally unknown. Nova Zemlya's national animal is the aether eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Nova Zemlya is ranked 6,550^th in the world and 341^st in Lazarus for Smartest Citizens, with 114.77 quips per hour.