Title: 24 Wajah Billy: Dua Puluh Empat Orang Hidup dalam Diri Billy Milligan
Author: Daniel Keyes
First published October 1, 1981
668 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9786028579056
Rating: 4.3
Overview
Meet the 24 personalities living inside Billy Milligan. There’s Philip, a low-level criminal; Kevin, the mastermind behind a drugstore robbery; April, a woman with a burning desire to kill Billy’s stepfather; Adalana, a lonely lesbian who “uses” Billy’s body to commit rape; David, an 8-year-old boy who feels all the pain; Ragen, who speaks Serbo-Croatian; and the Teacher…
They are all part of this shocking true story. Get ready to delve deep into the mind of a tortured young man and the scary, fragmented world he inhabits.
Without control over his actions, Billy Milligan was arrested and imprisoned for the kidnap and rape of three women on the Ohio State University campus. However, he was later acquitted on the grounds of insanity.
How could a shattered personality like Billy’s come to be? What was his life like?
And how did he move on from his suffering?
About the Author
Daniel Keyes, a celebrated American author, is best known for his award-winning short story and novel, Flowers for Algernon. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America awarded him the Author Emeritus honor in 2000.
Keyes was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and began his career as a ship’s purser in the U.S. Maritime Service at the age of 17. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College and later obtained a Master’s Degree in English and American Literature while teaching English in public schools during the day and writing on weekends.
During the early 1950s, Keyes was the editor of a pulp magazine for publisher Martin Goodman. He also wrote for horror and science fiction comics, including titles like and .
Flowers for Algernon tells the story of Charlie, a mentally disabled man who becomes a genius after experimental surgery, but tragically loses his newfound intellect. The story was first published in 1959 and later expanded into a novel in 1966.
It has been adapted into various forms of media, including a 1968 film starring Cliff Robertson and Claire Bloom. Keyes won both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for the story.
After teaching creative writing at Wayne State University, Keyes became an English and creative writing professor at Ohio University, where he was later honored as a professor emeritus in 2000. His other notable works include The Minds of Billy Milligan, The Touch, and the memoir Algernon, Charlie, and I.
Editoral Review
Title: 24 Wajah Billy: Dua Puluh Empat Orang Hidup dalam Diri Billy Milligan
Author: Daniel Keyes
Genre: Fiction, Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Publication Date: October 1, 1981
In 24 Wajah Billy, Daniel Keyes explores the psychological complexities of Billy Milligan, a man with multiple personality disorder. The novel immerses readers in the mind of Billy, who has 24 distinct personalities that inhabit his consciousness.
Each personality has its own set of characteristics, memories, and motives, and they all take turns controlling Billy’s thoughts, emotions, and actions. At its core, 24 Wajah Billy is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the murky realm of mental illness.
Keyes skillfully weaves together an intricate plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The book is rife with tension, as Billy’s various personalities engage in power struggles and attempt to gain control of his consciousness.
The setting of the novel is primarily within the walls of a mental institution, where Billy is confined after being arrested for a string of crimes committed by one of his more volatile personas. Keyes’ descriptions of the institution are detailed and vivid, painting a picture of a bleak and desolate environment that exacerbates Billy’s mental anguish.
Despite being a work of fiction, 24 Wajah Billy has significant cultural and historical significance. The novel was based on the true story of Billy Milligan, who was the first person in U.S. history to successfully plead insanity due to multiple personality disorder.
The book sheds light on the challenges faced by those with mental illness, particularly in the legal system, and raises important questions about the nature of identity and consciousness. Keyes’ writing is masterful, particularly in his ability to craft distinct and compelling personalities for each of Billy’s alters.
The characters are complex and nuanced, each with their own motivations and desires. However, at times the pacing of the novel drags, and some of the shifts between personalities feel forced and contrived.
Compared to other works in the psychological thriller genre, 24 Wajah Billy stands out for its unique and thought-provoking exploration of multiple personality disorder. The novel is reminiscent of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but with a modern, psychological twist.
Overall, 24 Wajah Billy is an engrossing and thought-provoking novel that offers a window into the mind of someone with multiple personalities. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology or the human psyche, but be warned that it may leave readers feeling unsettled and haunted.
I would recommend this book with a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
