The Gzilt are a bipedal sentient species.
The Gzilt are a very old race, being present when the Culture was first being formed. The Gzilt almost joined the Culture, but opted out in the end. Details of this decision play a role in The Hydrogen Sonata. They are roughly equivalent, technologically, to the Culture. Gzilt ships use a virtualized crew with accelerated processing instead of a single artificial Mind. Minor conflicts between opposing Culture and Gzilt ships over certain historical artifacts are witnessed before the planned Gzilt subliming.
After Sublimation a small percentage of Gzilt remained in the Real and are now known as the Gzilt-Remnanter.
Physiology
The Gzilt are pan-human (humanoid), but not mammalian.
Psychology
In their medieval stage of development the Gzilt received the Book of Truth from their benefectors the Zihdren. Unlike other holy books this one proved to be more truthful after every scientific breakthrough and this lead the Gzilt to regard themselves as special or chosen. The revelations in the Book of Thruth lead them to choose for Sublimation faster then average for highly developed civilizations.
Known Gzilt
Septame Banstegeyn