[Suzerain of Sheol]

Hmm... I can't say I've encountered an issue like that. I know for my own work, I always rely on the setting to give context to the drama of the characters' struggles and triumphs. Sci-Fi/Fantasy give you a very unique opportunity as a writer to raise the stakes of emotion and drama, it's just getting it right that's the hard part.

Suffice it to say, though, Steven Erikson is the only author who has ever made me openly weep (or cheer, etc). So, hail genre, I guess? Woo.... hoo? *shrugs*