It's Only Forever: Labyrinth

by Jes Battis

120 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Jes Battis (they/them) is the author of THE WINTER KNIGHT (April 2023), the OCCULT SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR series, and the PARALLEL PARKS series. Jes writes in the areas of urban fantasy, horror, and mystery/thriller. They also teach literature and creative writing in the Canadian prairies.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lovingly-written tribute to the Jim Henson movie "Labyrinth" which came out in 1986 and became a cult classic. This book was more of a cultural commentary/memoir than a book about solely the film. "It's Only Forever" particularly focused on the appeal of the film to the queer and neurodivergent communities, and the lasting impact of the deeper themes of the film. (For example, Sarah in the film is portrayed as somewhat unusual for the time. Instead of a typical teenager wanting to go out on dates and hang out with friends, she is a 14 year old who loves stories, puzzles, and what people deem to be "childish" interests. She is caught between staying in the world of childhood and moving ahead to adolescence, and eventually adulthood.) This book argues for the benefit of embracing the childlike self and seeing the wonder in the world.

Again, this isn't the kind of book that details a "making of the film" with quotes from the actors, and David Bowie is written about mostly through the lens of his character, Jareth (The Goblin King), rather than any inkling of the rock star/real life man. Maybe the content of this book wasn't what I expected going into reading it, but it was exactly what I needed to read. It was beautifully written and the prose was excellent.

5 stars.

I received this complimentary ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Vivi.Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun. It's Only Forever: Labyrinth, by Jes Battis was an excellent exploration of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth in connection to the politics and world at that time. It also included portions of the authors life, connecting it to the film. I ultimately wish this book was longer, but it serves as a great starting point for anyone who wants to delve into the movie. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved 80’s fantasy cinema, and to those who might want to review childhood favourites through an academic lens. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.