Bookmarking this, some very helpful answers here.

By your initial definition, the Culture series would certainly qualify!

Yeah, I’m afraid your understanding of what the “hard” part of hard SciFi is not correct.

Most people who use the term refer to SciFi that does not exceed the bounds of what we know to be physically possible, e.g., no FTL, not sapient AIs, etc.

Although I can see how you might misinterpret it to indicate anything that might be possible.

I love this book and all his stuff, but this is not hard sci-fi at all.

Just so if anyone takes the recommendation they know what they are getting into :)

If healthcare were decoupled from employment, Americans could protest in much larger number and for a longer period of time.

A general strike would become viable.