Benjamin J. Szumskyj is an Australian who used to be an editor, author and

critic A critic is a person who communicates an assessment and an opinion of various forms of creative works such as art, literature, music, cinema, theater, fashion, architecture, and food. Critics may also take as their subject social or governmen ...

of weird fiction, horror and fantasy literature. Since becoming a Christian, he has written non-fiction regarding Christianity.

Literary work

Between 2003 and 2008 he edited several books on authors such as Robert E. Howard,

Karl Edward Wagner Karl Edward Wagner (12 December 1945 – 14 October 1994) was an American writer, poet, editor, and publisher of horror, science fiction, and heroic fantasy, who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and originally trained as a psychiatrist. He ...

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and

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and wrote dozens of essays and articles on literary criticism for several magazines and journals such as ''Notes in Contemporary Literature'', ''Wormwood: Writings about Fantasy, Supernatural and Decadent Literature'' and ''Star*Line: Journal of the

Science Fiction Poetry Association The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) is a society based in the United States with the aim of fostering an international community of writers and readers interested in poetry pertaining to the genres of science fiction, fantasy, ...

''. He was also general editor of the journal ''Studies in Fantasy Literature'' and editor-in-chief of the journal ''Studies in Australian Weird Fiction'', before the former was cancelled because the publisher shut down and the latter was handed over to poet and critic Phillip A. Ellis. He was also the editor of Sword and Sorcery & Weird Fiction Terminus (SSWFT) amateur press association from its inception in March 2001 until December 2008. SSWFT has members in Australia, US, UK, Finland and Sweden (the a.p.a.'s Editor is now Scott Sheaffer.)

Christian commitments

It was in 2008 that Szumskyj left the field of literary criticism to devote his life to his Christian commitments (as noted in ''Within the Shadow of the Cross'', SSWFT #37), renouncing his former works as inconsistent with his faith. The change was so significant, it result in him writing
The Pilgrim’s Digress: Why Christians Should Avoid the Fantasy and Horror Genres
' (Ichthus Publications, 2015). As he wrote in the conclusion of the book, "I regret very, very much what I edited and wrote during my almost ten years in the field of literary criticism. Without sounding melodramatic, it spiritually sickens me, and if I could, I would destroy ever last copy of what I wrote and contributed to and expunge every title bearing my name or contribution from the Internet, along with the memories indelibly etched on the minds of my readers. ''I abhor it all''. That is why I can sympathize with the Apostle Paul’s line in Philippians 3:8... I agree with him ereand feel the same about what I formerly read and wrote. ''Dung''. The same can be said of what I watched. If to gain Christ is to lose the world’s literature (and non-fiction), then so be it. I would rather read through the lens of Christ" ("Conclusion: It's All About Philippians 3:8", p. 90-91) Today, he teaches students-at-risk in Western Australia. He has two master's degree, one in Divinity from Liberty University and one in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible College, three Bachelor's (B.Ed/B.Soc.Sci & B.Th), two Graduate Diplomas (Christian Studies & Librarian Technician) and three Graduate Certificates (Biblical Counselling Institute Ohio; Institute of Jewish Studies; Christian Institute on Disability). He is also a certified Biblical Counsellor (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors). When not working, he focuses all his time and energy on theological studies and has begun to write articles for Christian publications online and in-print such as ''Got Questions Ministries'', ''Creation Ministries International'', ''Bible League Quarterly'', ''Evangelical Action'', and several others.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Australian editors {{australia-writer-stub