The Federal Republic of Photan is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Vorteen Of San Ming with an iron fist, and renowned for its deadly medical pandemics, enslaved workforce, and triple-decker prams. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 2.846 billion Photanians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The enormous, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Administration, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Shveersterdam. The average income tax rate is 86.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Photanian economy, worth 460 trillion bahtons a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. However, for those in the know, there is an enormous, deeply entrenched, quite specialized black market in Arms Manufacturing, Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Uranium Mining. The private sector mostly consists of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, but the government is looking at stamping this out. Average income is an impressive 161,710 bahtons, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Troublemakers just happen to be reassigned to distant mining operations, the government has cut its subsidies for all special interest groups, sushi is sold on the black market, and constipated-looking politicians are uptight about potty mouths. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Photan's national animal is the Rooster, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Photan is ranked 80,215^th in the world and 2,221^st in The North Pacific for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 98.5 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.