Location: Mars

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by David Bowie with a fair hand, and renowned for its keen interest in outer space. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 1.94 billion hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of the Environment, Education, and Social Welfare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mars. The average income tax rate is 82%, and even higher for the wealthy. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Tourism.

The government's religious works are headed by a New Age guru, businesses are scrambling to adapt to the government's mandate that 'time and measurement no longer exist', government officials are held to the highest standard of morality, and houses and businesses are bulldozed to make way for ever-expanding cemeteries. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars's national animal is the spider, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Music, and its currency is the ticket.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars is ranked 11th in Mars and 98,138th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -32 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and