speculative fiction

Speculative Fiction Writers Considered As High School Students.

http://granades.com/2007/07/25/sff-authors-as-hs-students/

Though I definitely wouldn't consider Bujold to be going in the romance direction, given how much time is spent on battles, politics, and mysteries. Character-driven, reall, and the thing with characters is that many of them are involved in romantic relationships. Also, as someone comments, both Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams were left out. Though I consider Pratchett to be more a satirist who uses fantasy as his vehicle.