about
“A mage’s name is better hidden than a herring in the sea, better guarded than a dragon’s den. A prying charm will be met with a stronger charm, subtle devices will fail, devious enquiries will be deviously thwarted, and force will be turned ruinously back upon itself.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea
Keeping the Door is a hobby site obsessively devoted to publishing information about science fiction and fantasy literature. Almost as obsessively as we read it :)
Firstly we report the news: Which author has just brought out an amazing new book that you need to know about? Which publisher has signed which up and coming young gun? What author is about to do book signings in your area?
Secondly we provide commentary and analysis. Who does characterisation better; Robin Hobb or Janny Wurts? Will Brandon Sanderson’s final Wheel of Time books match up to the Robert Jordan originals? And lastly, we write the reviews, which, perhaps, need no explanation.
The title of the site refers to one of the least known, but perhaps most important of the nine Roke Island master mages in Ursula Le Guin’s classic Earthsea series: The Master Doorkeeper. An enigmatic fellow, the Doorkeeper is perhaps best known for denying access to the School of Magic to the young Sparrowhawk — until the beginner mage realises he must first surrender any wizard’s most closely guarded secret. Can you guess what it is?
The writer
So far Keeping the Door is written by just one writer, its editor, Renai LeMay. Renai is one of Australia’s best-known technology journalists and editors. Currently the news editor of the country’s largest business technology publication, ZDNet.com.au, he has also worked as one of The Australian Financial Review’s main technology reporters, during a stint that also saw him contribute heavily to MIS Magazine.
Renai has an extensive science fiction and fantasy library, a collection that is constantly being added to. Weaned on Isaac Asimoc and Roger Zelazny by his science fiction-loving father, some of his favourite authors include David Zindell, Ursula K. Le Guin and Robin Hobb. Among other qualifications he counts a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Sydney … although most of the books studied during that degree unfortunately weren’t set on alien worlds :)