Kekasih Marionette dan 12 Kisah Lainnya

This short story collection consists of thirteen stories written by Dewi Ria Utari between 2003 and 2009, all of which were previously published in various print media in Indonesia, including Kompas, Koran Tempo, Media Indonesia, Suara Merdeka, Spice Magazine, Djakarta Magazine, and A+ Magazine. As such, this book also marks a period when literary sections flourished in Indonesian mass media—before they gradually disappeared one by one.

The story Marionette, which lends its title to the book, is a combination of two short stories: Kekasih, published in Djakarta Magazine (February 2003), and Marionette, published in Kompas (Sunday, May 1, 2005). Both Kekasih and Marionette explore the perspectives and emotional landscapes of women navigating the pressures of urban life. Likewise, most of the other stories unravel the social pressures faced by women in society through a surrealist style—a conscious choice by Dewi to frame her narratives as dark fables of the lives of urban Indonesian women.

Kekasih Marionette was selected as one of the Top Five titles of the Khatulistiwa Literary Award, which later became the Kusala Literary Award in 2014.