The Realm Past the Horizon of Merethin is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by the Merethinian Council with a fair hand, and renowned for its museums and concert halls, keen interest in outer space, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 2.027 billion Merethinians are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The enormous, liberal, socially-minded, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Merethin City. The average income tax rate is 91.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Merethinian economy, worth 229 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 led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing and Tourism. Average income is an impressive 113,219 golden coins, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Men are finding 'she spots' more easily but they can't use them, search-and-rescue organisations are the biggest employer in the country, the nation is stuck in permanent election mode as politicians demand constant do-overs, and giggling elementary school newspaper reporters want to know why the Merethinian Council is a silly poophead. Crime 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 Violetism.

Merethin is ranked 306,467^th in the world and 32^nd in One in a Million for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -11.96 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.