< What books has the pub been reading?
I'm reading A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine. I'll admit the first book was more riveting, but it's a "came for the fun sci-fi ideas, hooked by the thriller, stayed for the characters" kind of thing.
This was a great series! I agree that the first book was better, but I really enjoyed the second one as well. Along with everything else, it really scratches that Star Trek itch, i.e. people figuring stuff out rather than blowing it up (mostly).