Often, they will feature military hierarchies and the politics within them. There could be power struggles between different military commanders or factions. And the books may also show how military forces adapt to new threats, whether it's a new alien species or a previously unknown technological menace.
Many of them likely have advanced military technology as a key feature. For example, spaceships with high - tech weaponry or genetically enhanced soldiers.
The books in this list may also show the anxieties of the era. With the Cold War going on, there could be themes related to the fear of nuclear war or the power struggles between different superpowers. At the same time, they might be exploring new ideas in biology and medicine as science was advancing in those fields at that time. For instance, some books could be speculating about genetic engineering or new ways of treating diseases in a science - fiction context.
Some of the books from 1992 might have been characterized by exploring emerging technologies of the time in a fictional context. For example, they could have delved into early concepts of virtual reality like in 'Snow Crash'.
Some might have strong dystopian themes. For example, they could depict a future where society has crumbled due to over - population or environmental disasters.
I think 'The Forever War' is also very popular. Its unique concept of time dilation in space warfare has attracted a lot of readers. It makes people think about how different the concept of time can be in different situations, especially in the context of long - distance space travel and military operations.
Many of the books in the list likely have advanced technology as a key feature. For example, they might have super - advanced weapons, spaceships with incredible capabilities, or new forms of military communication. Another feature could be complex characters. In military sci - fi, you often get characters who are trained soldiers but also have to deal with moral and ethical dilemmas. For instance, in a war - torn alien planet setting, a soldier might question the orders he's given.
One of the popular ones is 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's about an astronaut stranded on Mars and has to use his scientific and engineering knowledge, which also involves some military - like survival skills. His resource management and problem - solving in a hostile environment are like military strategies.
Some books in the list, like 'The Windup Girl', often deal with environmental and genetic engineering themes. It shows a world where humanity has tinkered too much with nature and now has to face the consequences.
Hard science fiction books from 2015 often had a strong focus on scientific accuracy. For example, they might accurately depict space travel, like in 'The Martian' where the details of living on Mars and the challenges of getting back to Earth were based on real science.
The books in the list of 2016 hard science fiction books probably had complex world - building. Take 'Luna: New Moon' for instance. To create a believable lunar colony, the author had to consider everything from the gravitational differences to the resources available on the moon. This level of world - building is characteristic of hard science fiction as it requires a deep understanding of scientific principles to construct a plausible and engaging fictional world.