"Ninth Step Station" is a captivating fusion of crime drama and near-future science fiction, creating an immersive world that feels both familiar and extraordinary. The narrative brilliantly weaves together the complexities of international politics, technology, and human emotion. With its compelling characters, including the resourceful duo at its heart, the story delivers on suspense and intrigue while offering insightful commentary on societal shifts. The pacing is impeccable, the tension high, and the storytelling simply exceptional. A standout in its genre, "Ninth Step Station" is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and thrillers alike.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I should have known that this book would not be my cup of tea, but I was interested in the concept of a dystopian world based in Japan, and not in the United States. I am not a sci-fi reader, so I could not get into the bulk of the book, but I appreciate the authors giving a new point of view to sci fi

I didn’t really understand what was going on in the first couple of chapters. The alternating characters were completely irrelevant to each other

Over the last few years I've discovered a fondness for Japanese mysteries and science fiction. I think the Japanese style is mannered,  rather like the Edwardian style,  and perhaps because it's unusual to my perspective,  I enjoy very much reading Japanese mysteries and SF in translation.

NINTH STEP STATION is Near-Future Apocalyptic Dystopian Science Fiction. Yes it's all of these. Set in the early 2030's, Tokyo is partially destroyed by a terrible earthquake plus is a divided city following China's war on Japan. In fact, part of Tokyo is under Chinese control,  where infrastructure works and the economy is stable. Japan's portion suffers almost nightly
from blackouts and shortages.

A U. S. Peacekeeper is tasked to partner with a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Detective, and they encounter a series of unusual and puzzling cases. Initially a serial publication from Serial Box, NINTH STEP STATION features two strong empowered female protagonists and some LGBT+ representation as well as deep psychological insights into characters.

I loved the dystopian future vibe with women at the helm of solving multiple complex murders, with the undercurrent of something much bigger stirring the pot.
The character development in the early stages was at a good depth and speed, but then it tapered off as the plot became the bigger story.

Thought I'd love this but I don't think this is for me. It felt dense and slow-going, a far cry from most crime fiction I'm used to. The POV characters felt distant, and I couldn't relate to them or really care for their feelings. The setting is the most interesting bit; it's a futuristic Tokyo fragmented by various nations. It's got a classic 80s cyberpunk vibe (think: Blade Runner).

Unfortunately I wasn't compelled by the mystery. Due to the distance of the narrative/POV, I didn't really care for solving the mystery. Neither why nor how. Our protagonists have no emotional connection to the crime; it's just their job to solve it. I wish there had been more of a human element, instead it left me quite cold. DNFed.

This was an amazing novel. Highly recommended for fans of the genre and those looking to get into the speculative fiction genre. Will be recommending the book for purchase.

*** Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Serial Box for providing me with an electronic copy of Ninth Step Station in exchange of my honest review.***


The futuristic world-building was excellent and I really enjoyed the episodic nature of the book. Great characters, smooth pacing from star to finish and amazing Blade Runner atmosphere.
Overall I do recommend this read to a lot of people both new and hardcore sci-fi fans- it's easy to read and engaging.

i really enjoyed reading this, I had listened to the audio book and was happy to see that there was a ebook version because sometimes I don't feel like an audio book.

Interesting collaborative effort, with a plot that I was surprisingly into. However, it wasn't quite as seamless as I hoped it would be given the nature of how it is presented: basically a serialized, case-by-case narrative that connects to a larger plotline running in the background. Because of that, I didn't necessarily ever feel like I was fully immersed in the story, nor did I ever really get into Emma or Miyako's heads long enough to get a full sense of them as characters—they ended up feeling rather cut and dry.

This was exactly what the description advertised, but o didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It’s possible that I’m just growing out of crime fiction, but I didn’t find the individual cases all that intriguing. The futuristic setting was interesting, although I think it could have been explained better. Three stars.

It wasn't something I would have liked, but I enjoyed it anyway, although in some parts it was just like I didn't understand.

Quite a different read...it's done like a tv show where we get an episode every chapter. But there is an overall arc with the two protagonist, an american peacekeeper and a Japanese police officer who get partnered up in a futuristic Tokyo. It reads like you're binge watching on Netflix and you need to keep your wits about you since events are linked together surpassing several episodes. I couldn't read the book completely without stopping and reading something else, but well, I can't bingewatch either so that's no reflection of the book and how good it is. I liked it, it's something different, the relationship between the leading ladies works and evolved naturally and I liked the Japanese culture and sci fi elements that were part of this book. If you're looking for something slightly different...give this one a go.

*** An ARC was provided by netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***

'Ninth Step Station' is a collaborative creation to be either read, or listened to as a podcast. As a result, it is not so much a book per se, as a collection of episodes written by either Older, Chen, Koyanagi, or Wilde. It is interesting as a concept, and despite the slight differences in style and focus, the episodes/chapters do follow a cohesive line.

'Ninth Step Station' refers to a police station in futuristic, cyber-rich, post-war fragmented Tokyo. Here, loner Japanese Inspector Miyako Koreda is assigned a collaboration partner from the US Peacekeeping force, Lieutenant Emma Higashi. As they confront espionage, gang-wars, as well as political and social issues, the two women learn from each other. Koreda learns to trust her partner, while Higashi realises why the locals regard the American mission just as suspiciously as they do the Chinese invaders.

This is a very visual cyber-punk narrative, with heavy influences from Phillip K Dick, ‘Akira’, and darker cop television series. Similarly, the authors also use the time and place dystopia to address very present issues, such as technological dependency, interventionism, homophobia, sexism, nationalism, mental health issues, and others.

Who would enjoy this
'Ninth Step Station' is a dream for those who like ‘Blade Runner’, Sci-Fi anime, and Netflix series, yet are trying new ways of entertainment. The episodes are short enough, and specific enough, for independent reading.

Of course, it will appeal to audiences who enjoy crime fantasy, as well. The read is light enough, both in content and detail, to make it an option for those looking for light fun with a dark tinge.

Lastly, this work could appeal to all ages, but mostly to young adults with a taste for dark novels. Particularly those who are into strong women leads and don’t mind a bit of an international social agenda.

Who should give this a pass
Any reader who dislikes cyber-punk, anime, or Sci-fi would do well giving this a pass. It would be a bit difficult to engage with characters who have undergone surgical modification to ‘enhance’ their abilities, at the very least.

Moreover, I would dissuade those who are easily upset by war stories and confrontation. Despite the shallow approach, the tone is too dark, and the ‘in-your-face’ attitude of some of the characters, while mostly believable within context, comes out too forceful at times.

Finally, I can imagine both American and Chinese patriotic nationals taking some of the matters quite personally. I would actually recommend they read it, but taking it with a pinch of salt and an open mind.

Conclusions and suggestions
Ninth Step Station is a well-executed project, carefully constructed, but still a collection of linked stories with an open ending – a season, not a volume.

The authors, under the leadership of Malka Older, have been very smart in keeping a simple main plotline. By so doing, and by leaving it unburdened with great amount of details, they could attach the episodes, and their individual plots, very successfully, almost seamlessly. Of course, that has a double-edge as there is no subsequent weight to any of the items of the agenda Ninth Step Station presents.

Another point for this simplicity, is the use of the narrative itself to explain the (limited) new concepts – whether this be terminology (seku-haru, Kudan, etc.) or elements of the futuristic reality (the modular cars, the sleeves, …). The authors knew the audience had to contend with much information, and wisely limited the extra and novelties. This way, not only are the readers able to get a sense of the genre, but they are also able to identify with the novelty felt by Emma and Hiroko as they confront each other’s world.

My main issues with Ninth Step Station are the sudden, gratuitous goriness of some of the episodes, as unlike most others; and the lack of closure. These are the most obvious consequences of the breaking of parameters I mentioned above, and which most jar with the fact this is presented as a book. Actually, the first one is not that much of a deal breaker, although it messes up the standard 3-Act structure, as they fall outside that line.

The second one, however, is more pernicious. While audiences are willing to wait for new television seasons, readers can get “antsy” about being unfulfilled. The expectation involved in waiting is different, to the point of turning on the author as the audience is left hanging (think Game of Thrones, for a blatant example). Even worse, is the sense of having the cliff-hanger used as a means to ensure future readership. In a book, that is a very delicate balance to handle, and sadly Ninth Step Station does not seem to do it well. The new, open plotline into the next season is rushed, and not enough emotional involvement has taken place.

This is an interesting collection, and rather unique. It's well-done with good stories all around; mostly compelling and engaging. I look forward to more.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

Collaborative work is always tricky, but with writers like these, it can also be amazing. And in Ninth Step Station, it is. If you like humane-but-futuristic sci-fi, this is a great series and I'm looking forward to season 2.

Kinda steampunk, kinda futuristic, with tons of atmosphere. This is right up my alley. I'm in love with the Asian cultures, too, and this embraced them. Keep it up, Serialbox