Depending on what you define as hard SF, the Nexus trilogy by Ramez Naam might fit. I’ve seen it described as hard SF, as “having some hard scifi elements”, and as “dumbed down science fiction” by a particularly displeased Goodreads user; take your pick. I remember it being very easy to read and making more of an effort than usual to consider the society surrounding the characters. That might not mean getting the social sciences exactly right, though.
In general, I think the closer the time period is to our own, the more likely it is that the social sciences will be right, since the author will have more material to base them on. It’s been some time since I read one of his books and I’m not sure if he counts as hard SF, but maybe Ian McDonald? I remember being impressed by the complexity of River of Gods. If anyone has read more of his books, please confirm or infirm my guess.
Depending on what you define as hard SF, the Nexus trilogy by Ramez Naam might fit. I’ve seen it described as hard SF, as “having some hard scifi elements”, and as “dumbed down science fiction” by a particularly displeased Goodreads user; take your pick. I remember it being very easy to read and making more of an effort than usual to consider the society surrounding the characters. That might not mean getting the social sciences exactly right, though.
In general, I think the closer the time period is to our own, the more likely it is that the social sciences will be right, since the author will have more material to base them on.
It’s been some time since I read one of his books and I’m not sure if he counts as hard SF, but maybe Ian McDonald? I remember being impressed by the complexity of River of Gods. If anyone has read more of his books, please confirm or infirm my guess.