Has anyone read any of these? Can you recommend?
I haven’t read any of them.
From a few years ago, I think “The Three Body Problem” Liu Cixin, is a worthy winner of the Hugo. Not PC and no US cultural agenda. Its very Chinese and quite “hard” SF.
Bujold’s 7th Hugo, her 2nd in the new Series category. If you count the retro-Hugo’s,, and you should, Heinlein holds his lead at 11. Lois is firmly in second place. ALL her stuff is worth reading. The only other winner I knew was Wonder Woman.
The Collapsing Empire, by John Scalzi (Tor). Anything by Scalzi is great.
New York 2140, by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit). Ignore the leftism.
Raven Stratagem, by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris). Good.