The Empire of Zathalon is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Emperor Constantine with a fair hand, and notable for its frequent executions and public floggings. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 26.307 billion Zathalonians enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The medium-sized government prioritizes Healthcare, with Education, Law & Order, and Industry also on the agenda. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zathalon City. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 21.6%.

The very strong Zathalonian economy, worth a remarkable 1,364 trillion Voors a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Uranium Mining industry, with major contributions from Cheese Exports, Book Publishing, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 51,869 Voors, with the richest citizens earning 9.7 times as much as the poorest.

Cheese has become the new icon of political dissent, radio shows frequently feature people denouncing religion, the government snoops on private internet connections, and graffiti graces every city's streets. Crime is a problem. Zathalon's national animal is the Lion.

Zathalon is ranked 144,716^th in the world and 3^rd in Panessos for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 76.35 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.