The Garuda are a race of bird-like humanoids. Many live in the Cymek desert, but some may live in cities such as New Crobuzon.
Communities[]
While the urban population in New Crobuzon consists largely of poverty-stricken, segregated, and desensitized youth living in Spatters, there are well-established communities elsewhere in the world, such as the Cymek desert.
Garuda Society[]
In general, the Cymek Garuda are egalitarian and individualistic and their society has been described as "radically communist", although Cymek communities do have social hierarchies and titles based on the degree to which an individual is respected.
Law[]
Most garuda communities practice an unusual form of law, in which the only crime is theft of choice, although this is possible in various degrees and covers the vast majority of conventional crimes, exiling or wing-clipping the most serious transgressors.
Social ranks[]
Within Garuda society, individuals are classified as either "concrete" or "abstract."
- Concrete individuals recognize that their individuality exists within a social context and that they are part of a larger unit. They respect the individuality and choices of others because they understand their own existence relies on communal respect.
- An abstract individual is a Garuda who has forgotten their place in the social fabric and fails to respect other individuals and their choices. This can lead to actions that are considered choice-theft, resulting in punishment.
Known Garuda[]
- Yagharek in Perido Street Station is one of the only known garuda, albeit wingless and outcast.
- Krakhleki is a famous writer mentioned in Perdido Street Station, but is not otherwise described.
- Shashjar is mentioned as a member of the Diverse Tendency party.
Trivia[]
- Garuda call the Torque "rebekh-lajhnar-h'k" which translates to "the force that cannot be trusted." The Garuda view of the Torque is rooted in their creation myth. Their mythology holds the Torque is a "cancer-sibling," born alongside the First Twins, Death (Rebekh-sackmai) and Birth (Rebekh-kavt).