I just recently read the first Expanse (Leviathan Awakens) and am reading Hyperion. Depends on what you are in a mood for. Expanse is more action-packed and easier to follow. Hyperion is higher up there, takes time to digest.
They talk about many things, but the one that stands out is incentives. There is a lot of competition in academia, publish or perish, with big prizes, so some people are taking shortcuts.
Yeah, I got that and I liked the different tones and variety of each individual tale. I guess I liked some tales more than others, but regardless I enjoyed the creativity of each individual tale
that's a life pro tip right there