JERZY has an exceedingly dry climate, but high-tech weather control systems are able to make it rain in very localized areas with high efficiency.  The controller of these systems, who is indeed the Controller of the planet, is able to sell rainfall to the highest bidder.  A cartel of wealthy landowners keeps prices reasonable, however, by clandestine agreements as to who will win the bid and by how much.  Further complicating the efforts to collude are the numerous impoverished gangs willing to intimidate competitors for a very reasonable price.  Because water is so expensive, the members of these gangs rarely if ever bathe.  On Jerzy, dirty deeds are done dirt cheap.

CHENAQRUD was first located by the famed explorer Safi-al-Manit, who was presumed lost when he never returned from his expedition.  His wife Bibi set out in search of him, but also never returned.  When the planet was finally rediscovered decades later by the Atropines, they were shocked to find that both Safi and Bibi had survived, and had passed on the inheritance of Chenaqrud to their son Sadr.  This monarchy continues with the cooperation of the regime on Atropine, who find it convenient to support a legitimate government that supports them in turn.  The core of Chenaqrud is very active both geologically and chemically.  New molecular forms are constantly being created and churned to the surface, where they erupt onto glistening steppes.  Chenaqruders race to gather these flows, often while they are still hot.  When doing so, they usually wear a local vegetable called "qārā" on their feet.  These bulbous roots are quite heat-resistant, and so readily available as to easily serve as disposable footwear.

VÎLCEANU is moderately radioactive, which has caused its population to be affected by numerous mutations.  Those that are not deleterious (and some are even beneficial) have been passed down through the generations by various branches of its people.  The Vîlceanuvians have then sorted themselves into various camps based on their outward appearances.  There is no prejudice behind this practice, as all peoples are considered equal.  Those who bear closest resemblance simply live in the same place and are ruled by the same elected Chief.  Mating is strictly exogamous, taking place only between members of different camps.  When children are born, they are closely examined and are usually judged to belong to one or the other of their parents.  In rare cases a child is deemed to obviously belong in some other camp, and this is not taken as a sign of infidelity or dishonor.  The child must, however, go off to live with an adoptive parent of the appropriate phenotype.  There are elaborate and oft-told Vîlceanuvian myths which explain the origin of their various subtypes, and which are performed theatrically in immense amphitheatres.  Those afflicted by lethal mutations are granted the great honor of participating in the finale of these plays.  Tourism is politely discouraged.

TIBRO is home to a busily competitive society of humans who are proud of their science and engineering.  The nearly indestructible architecture of their cities seems inhuman, however.  Low-ceilinged sleeping areas, ramped entrances, and sloping tunnels between buildings give every indication that they were built for another species entirely.  It seems highly probable that the descendants of the city builders still live on the planet.  Called "Slinkers" by the human Tibrohs, the shy creatures show no evidence of tool use or advanced organization but do well match the probable anatomy of the missing architects.  They live a nomadic lifestyle, slowly migrating around the planet to avoid what can only be described as "Ghosts".  Resembling the "Slinkers" in every respect except for their intangibility, the second mystery of Tibro is even greater than the first.  Brave and/or intoxicated Tibrohs have risked physical contact with the "Ghosts" and suffered no ill effects whatsoever.  The "Slinkers" flee from them as if in fear for their lives, though, and legend states that if a "Slinker" ever touches a "Ghost", it turns into one.  No such transformation has ever been recorded on video.

ATROPINE was the first outer rim system to be colonized, which seems unlikely because it is so cold and marginally habitable.  But being out-of-the-way and inconspicuous is an advantage in certain occupations, and Atropinians have been moderately successful in taking advantage.  They are a high-technology society, and they are known to provide free use of their advanced tools to those who are willing to cut them in on their profits.  One particular region is known for its abandoned settlements, which are used for weapons tests and anything else too dangerous to do within populated areas.  The ruins could tell a story or two, if anything on Atropine was amenable to talking about what happens there.

KATUBA is an oceanic world both ruled and wholy owned by a queen who traces her matrilineal bloodline back to the first human to live there.  Almost all economies are to some degree based on an agreed fiction, but the Katuban economy is more imaginary than most.  The queen literally owns everything on the planet, including the people.  So any object to be used or meal to be eaten is officially lent or gifted by the queen herself.  Obviously she can't be expected to personally announce these grants all the time, so one must simply take what one considers to be fair and hope that the queen agrees.  Within her experienced mind there is presumed to exist a sort of ledger which tracks each person's merit as balanced against the resources consumed by that person.  There is minimal scarcity on Katuba, with abundant food everywhere and no need for shelter or clothing in its warm calm waters.  Only technological facilities are very limited, and these are predominantly used in the creation of esoteric vehicles.  When someone gets an idea for a new one, they wait their turn at the nearest fabrication shop so they can produce a novel design which will delight the queen.  Annual parades and races show off all of them, and promote community spirit on this strange but peaceful planet.

VELEŠIĆI is a planet rich with life that once also had a large human population, but pollution damaged most of the arable land.  The centuries of emigration that followed have resulted in more people of Velešići heritage living off-world than on Velešići itself.  A few ancient families remain, within well-defended enclaves.  For although the ecology of the planet was disrupted, many creatures survived and adapted to the polluted land.  Of particular interest are the vukpas, which are very dangerous carnivorous pack animals.  In addition to their teeth and claws, vukpas bear one more unusual weapon:  a virus.  Anyone within shouting distance of a pack of vukpas is at risk of infection, and the primary symptom of uncontrollable laughter serves to both attract vukpas and incapacitate their prey.  Hunting parties on Velešići must be extremely cautious, because he who laughs does not last.

TAMBO was founded by an eccentric scientist searching for a way to produce limitless quantities of food.  He found it in a self-replicating catalyst that converts seawater into an edible paste.  This paste is revolting to look at, horrifying to smell, and achingly bitter to taste, but it is edible.  The surface of Tambo used to be over 90% covered by ocean, so now it is over 90% covered by this stuff.  They say that if you strain out the liquid from the paste, you can more easily choke it down with a glass of pure rainwater.  "They" are of course the nonviolent criminals and other undesirables who have been exiled to Tambo from the rest of the Nag sector.  The remorseful scientist attempted to flee, but was located and humanely imprisoned elsewhere rather than subjected to his creation.  His researches are closely supervised lest he achieve similar success again.

FLEPS is a seismologically unstable planet in the Ventura sector which is mined for its exotic exudations by the Flepsico corporation.  Its history of wealth generation and wealth concentration was fairly unremarkable before the arrival of a few individuals supplied with intellect-enhancing Paraíbite.  Then, though mining and trading and generation of wealth continued, off-world friends and relations soon noticed a difference in the communications they received from Fleps.  Messages became shorter, with more limited vocabulary, and some people stopped writing altogether.  Even more worrisome were the results when people visited Fleps for the express purpose of finding out what was going on.  They seemed to soon forget that intention, and to just settle into a life of being hard-working Flepsies.  It was not until the arrival of an intrepid Paraíbiter from Lestock that the galaxy learned the secret of Fleps.  High-ranking company officers had developed a means of inhibiting the thoughts of the entire population through the transmition of electromagnetic radiation.  Only Paraíbiters were immune.  So there is now very little immigration to Fleps, but its population remains stable, and there are always a few extremely wealthy people who are willing to join Flepsico and make even more money exploiting the hard-working little-thinking Flepsies.

PAM, TIM, I AM OWAT.

Who are Pam and Tim, and why do they keep saying "Woohoo"?