The Golden Shores Monarchy of Island Union is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by King Nick Jensen with an even hand, and remarkable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, keen interest in outer space, and pith helmet sales. The compassionate, cheerful population of 36.596 billion Islanders enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tropicana. The average income tax rate is 94.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Islander economy, worth a remarkable 5,598 trillion Isles a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Information Technology. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 152,976 Isles, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

War vets look after war animals, cutting-edge missile systems are being retrofitted to twin-prop air force biplanes, citizens who plan overseas vacations are barred from running for political office, and government theft from poor artists to give to rich allies has been dubbed the "reverse Robin Hood" policy. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Island Union's national animal is the Phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Atheism.

Island Union is ranked 984^th in the world and 1^st in Equinox for Safest, scoring 166.33 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.