The Melancholia of Aderisia is a titanic, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, irreverence towards religion, and suspicion of poets. The hard-working, democratic population of 11.473 billion Aderisians are effectively ruled by a group of massive corporations, who run for political office and provide their well-off citizens with world-class goods and services. Their poorer citizens, however, are mostly starving to death while being urged to go out and get real jobs. The populace has reasonably extensive civil rights, although these are mostly aimed at allowing them to buy whatever they like.

The tiny, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Healthcare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 7.8%.

The very strong Aderisian economy, worth 819 trillion kronor a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Basket Weaving, Information Technology, and Automobile Manufacturing. Average income is 71,439 kronor, with the richest citizens earning 8.9 times as much as the poorest.

The country's famous rainforests are being bulldozed by the mining industry, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, organ donation is compulsory, and the jackhammer is considered a tool of artistic criticism. Crime is relatively low. Aderisia's national animal is the kiwi, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Aderisia is ranked 78,331^st in the world and 1^st in Alstroemerian Commonwealths for Nicest Citizens, with 15.51 average smiles per day.