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Dust Knights #2
Gold Dust
BORN TO RUN; BORN TO FIGHT, A PAIR OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS COMPETE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
COMPETITORS IN THE INTERSTELLAR OLYMPICS MUST OVERCOME POVERTY AND INTRIGUE
Three interstellar civilizations vie for honors in the Olympics, including the Skolian Imperialate. The thriving, populous worlds of humanity have always dominated the Games. The team from Raylicon, a dying world of scorching temperatures, has never won honors.
IS CHANGE COMING?
Mason, the coach for the Raylicon track and field team, makes a startling The Undercity, an ancient culture hidden in ruins beneath the desert, carries a secret. In a place where crushing poverty exists alongside a culture of dramatic beauty, a group of spectacular runners has existed for centuries, even millennia, unknown to the outside universe.
The Dust Knights are the best of those marvels. With the help of Major Bhajaan, an Undercity native, he recruits the Knights. And so change sweeps their world. The Undercity faces a civilization they've never trusted, one that sees them as barely even human. Now, they must all learn to work together.
THE KYLE UNIVERSE
Skolia needs the Undercity to trust them—for hidden within its enigmatic population is one of humanity’s greatest resources. Their inbred population has created a large concentration of Kyle operators, an otherwise almost extinct group of humans. Kyles can do more than run; only they have the neurological makeup needed to utilize a vital technology, one that gives Skolian its sole advantage over their conquering enemies. The army wants the Kyles to work for them, but after centuries of being despised and left to die by the rest of humanity, the Undercity wants nothing to do with them.
Until Angel, one of the top runners among the Knights, joins the Kyle Corps—and dives into a world of neurological marvels, including star-spanning networks that access a dimension with dramatically different laws than our space-time universe.
THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER AS THE DUST KNIGHTS COMPETE FOR THEIR WORLD—AND THE FREEDOM OF HUMANITY
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise For Saga of the Skolian
“. . . riveting. . . . The world is rich and vivid, with two distinct cultures in the Undercity and the aboveground City of Cries. This exciting novel stands alone for anyone who enjoys science fiction adventure.” —Publishers Weekly on The Bronze Skies, starred review
“The Jigsaw Assassin follows a futuristic serial killer whose work implicates those in political power, causing a ripple of response that threatens the political party and calls upon Major Bhaajan to solve the crime. As Bhaaj and her crew delve into political and criminal worlds beyond their usual ken, readers receive an action-packed story of interstellar politics, intrigue, and science fiction that proves satisfying fast-paced, creatively world-building, and hard to put down.” —Midwest Book Review
Catherine Asaro has an M.A. in physics and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard. She has appeared as a speaker at many places, including Harvard and the National Academy of Sciences, and as a Guest of Honor at science fiction cons in the US and abroad. She is a member of SIGMA, a think tank that advises the government as to future trends. A former ballet and jazz dancer, and now a vocalist, Asaro has performed at clubs and conventions.
COMPETITORS IN THE INTERSTELLAR OLYMPICS MUST OVERCOME POVERTY AND INTRIGUE
Three interstellar civilizations vie for honors in the Olympics, including the Skolian Imperialate. The thriving, populous worlds of humanity have always dominated the Games. The team from Raylicon, a dying world of scorching temperatures, has never won honors.
IS CHANGE COMING?
Mason, the coach for the Raylicon track and field team, makes a startling The Undercity, an ancient culture hidden in ruins beneath the desert, carries a secret. In a place where crushing poverty exists alongside a culture of dramatic beauty, a group of spectacular runners has existed for centuries, even millennia, unknown to the outside universe.
The Dust Knights are the best of those marvels. With the help of Major Bhajaan, an Undercity native, he recruits the Knights. And so change sweeps their world. The Undercity faces a civilization they've never trusted, one that sees them as barely even human. Now, they must all learn to work together.
THE KYLE UNIVERSE
Skolia needs the Undercity to trust them—for hidden within its enigmatic population is one of humanity’s greatest resources. Their inbred population has created a large concentration of Kyle operators, an otherwise almost extinct group of humans. Kyles can do more than run; only they have the neurological makeup needed to utilize a vital technology, one that gives Skolian its sole advantage over their conquering enemies. The army wants the Kyles to work for them, but after centuries of being despised and left to die by the rest of humanity, the Undercity wants nothing to do with them.
Until Angel, one of the top runners among the Knights, joins the Kyle Corps—and dives into a world of neurological marvels, including star-spanning networks that access a dimension with dramatically different laws than our space-time universe.
THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER AS THE DUST KNIGHTS COMPETE FOR THEIR WORLD—AND THE FREEDOM OF HUMANITY
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise For Saga of the Skolian
“. . . riveting. . . . The world is rich and vivid, with two distinct cultures in the Undercity and the aboveground City of Cries. This exciting novel stands alone for anyone who enjoys science fiction adventure.” —Publishers Weekly on The Bronze Skies, starred review
“The Jigsaw Assassin follows a futuristic serial killer whose work implicates those in political power, causing a ripple of response that threatens the political party and calls upon Major Bhaajan to solve the crime. As Bhaaj and her crew delve into political and criminal worlds beyond their usual ken, readers receive an action-packed story of interstellar politics, intrigue, and science fiction that proves satisfying fast-paced, creatively world-building, and hard to put down.” —Midwest Book Review
Catherine Asaro has an M.A. in physics and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard. She has appeared as a speaker at many places, including Harvard and the National Academy of Sciences, and as a Guest of Honor at science fiction cons in the US and abroad. She is a member of SIGMA, a think tank that advises the government as to future trends. A former ballet and jazz dancer, and now a vocalist, Asaro has performed at clubs and conventions.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
496 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
21 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Asaro
94 books700 followersThe author of more than twenty-five books, Catherine Asaro is acclaimed for her Ruby Dynasty series, which combines adventure, science, romance and fast-paced action. Her novel The Quantum Rose won the Nebula® Award, as did her novella “The Spacetime Pool.” Among her many other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog magazine and a three time recipient of the RT BOOKClub Award for “Best Science Fiction Novel.” Her most recent novel, Carnelians, came out in October, 2011. An anthology of her short fiction titled Aurora in Four Voices is available from ISFiC Press in hardcover, and her multiple award-winning novella “The City of Cries” is also available as an eBook for Kindle and Nook.
Catherine has two music CD’s out and she is currently working on her third. The first, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, performed with the rock band, Point Valid. She appears as a vocalist at cons, clubs, and other venues in the US and abroad, including recently as the Guest of Honor at the Denmark and New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions. She performs selections from her work in a multimedia project that mixes literature, dance, and music with Greg Adams as her accompanist. She is also a theoretical physicist with a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard, and a jazz and ballet dancer. Visit her at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro
Catherine has two music CD’s out and she is currently working on her third. The first, Diamond Star, is the soundtrack for her novel of the same name, performed with the rock band, Point Valid. She appears as a vocalist at cons, clubs, and other venues in the US and abroad, including recently as the Guest of Honor at the Denmark and New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions. She performs selections from her work in a multimedia project that mixes literature, dance, and music with Greg Adams as her accompanist. She is also a theoretical physicist with a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard, and a jazz and ballet dancer. Visit her at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 15, 2025
The second book in the Dust Knights series has a number of dust knights trying to qualify for the Olympics. They have to deal with all sorts of prejudice and the poverty of their lives. After all, they agreed to run for the Raylicon team in exchange for clean water and food.
Besides training for the Olympics, Angel is working for the Army training to be a telop - a critcally needed skill to keep the Skolian Imperialate from being conquered by the much more numerous Trader Empire. Many more than average of the people who live in the Undercity are empaths and telepaths which is one reason that Raylicon has become interested in the population they disparaged as lazy and stupid.
Angel is quickly outpacing her instructors and, in true Undercity style, is exploring the vast new world she is being trained to navigate. Her investigations help Bhaaj who is investigating a possible forced merger between two interstellar corporations. The Scorpio Corporation and Abyss Associates are both companies of interest to the Majdas who are Bhaaj's employer. The CEOs of both corporations happen to have children who are on the new Olympic team.
One of the viewpoint characters is Kiro, the son of an executive of the Abyss Association. He really wants a track Olympic medal and is willing to slight his accounting degree at Cries University to pursue his dreams. He's also an empath who forms a firm friendship with three other young people from the Undercity who have been looking for a fourth for their dust gang and are also training for the Olympics.
This was another excellent story with great worldbuilding. I enjoyed Angel's descriptions of Kyle Space. I also enjoyed figuring out the mystery which centered around the two corporations, their connection to Undercity Drug cartels, and secrets buried in the past.
Besides training for the Olympics, Angel is working for the Army training to be a telop - a critcally needed skill to keep the Skolian Imperialate from being conquered by the much more numerous Trader Empire. Many more than average of the people who live in the Undercity are empaths and telepaths which is one reason that Raylicon has become interested in the population they disparaged as lazy and stupid.
Angel is quickly outpacing her instructors and, in true Undercity style, is exploring the vast new world she is being trained to navigate. Her investigations help Bhaaj who is investigating a possible forced merger between two interstellar corporations. The Scorpio Corporation and Abyss Associates are both companies of interest to the Majdas who are Bhaaj's employer. The CEOs of both corporations happen to have children who are on the new Olympic team.
One of the viewpoint characters is Kiro, the son of an executive of the Abyss Association. He really wants a track Olympic medal and is willing to slight his accounting degree at Cries University to pursue his dreams. He's also an empath who forms a firm friendship with three other young people from the Undercity who have been looking for a fourth for their dust gang and are also training for the Olympics.
This was another excellent story with great worldbuilding. I enjoyed Angel's descriptions of Kyle Space. I also enjoyed figuring out the mystery which centered around the two corporations, their connection to Undercity Drug cartels, and secrets buried in the past.
December 14, 2025
3.5
I’m invested in this world and characters, thus the rating. But the sport bits weren’t that interesting to me (couch potato here), and the mystery thread was seriously undeveloped and honestly its ending a WTF moment of epic proportions…
If a stop and think about that part of the story it looks like a swiss cheese…add the Aristo thread and things start to unravel.
Still, I enjoyed reading this book.
I’m invested in this world and characters, thus the rating. But the sport bits weren’t that interesting to me (couch potato here), and the mystery thread was seriously undeveloped and honestly its ending a WTF moment of epic proportions…
If a stop and think about that part of the story it looks like a swiss cheese…add the Aristo thread and things start to unravel.
Still, I enjoyed reading this book.
December 9, 2025
Gold Dust is a hugely satisfying read. Again, I love to read series books. You can appreciate Gold Dust better if you had first read the five Major Bhaajan books. And the fifteen Skolian Empire books as well.
The Skolian planet Raylicon has one major city (Cries) and a whole lot of desert. Underneath Cries is a whole other civilization known as the Undercity and assumed to be worse than dirt-poor. The Undercity is considered the worst kind of slum and the general populace of Raylicon believes all Undercity denizens to be criminals and thugs, etc.
Major Bhaajan escaped from the Undercity and was able to rise to the rank of Major in the military (from the enlisted ranks) solely on merit. It is up to Major Bhaajan to bridge the gap between the Undercity (which turns out to have Olympic-class runners in its ranks) and the larger populace of Raylicon. Major Bhaaj, in earlier books, founds the Dust Knights. This group has a code of honor (which includes no drugs and no criminals, etc.). Bhaaj teaches them a form of Taekwondo for self-defense.
The Raylicon track and field coach can't believe his good luck after having had the Raylicon teams always come in last at Olympic-level track meets for years just to discover that the Undercity has athletes who run like the wind.
Ms. Asaro's previous Skolian Imperialate series focused on the family which had the top Kyle genes and made faster-than-light communication possible, Skolia's only advantage against their mortal enemies, the Traders.
Turns out that not only can the Undercity athletes run but a sizable percentage of this forgotten population also have the top Kyle genes.
So, I am enjoying seeing the Skolian Empire from the point of view of the Undercity folks on the planet Raylicon who have NONE of the advantages which the Skolian ruling families have enjoyed for years but have their own society of which they can justly be proud.
The Skolian planet Raylicon has one major city (Cries) and a whole lot of desert. Underneath Cries is a whole other civilization known as the Undercity and assumed to be worse than dirt-poor. The Undercity is considered the worst kind of slum and the general populace of Raylicon believes all Undercity denizens to be criminals and thugs, etc.
Major Bhaajan escaped from the Undercity and was able to rise to the rank of Major in the military (from the enlisted ranks) solely on merit. It is up to Major Bhaajan to bridge the gap between the Undercity (which turns out to have Olympic-class runners in its ranks) and the larger populace of Raylicon. Major Bhaaj, in earlier books, founds the Dust Knights. This group has a code of honor (which includes no drugs and no criminals, etc.). Bhaaj teaches them a form of Taekwondo for self-defense.
The Raylicon track and field coach can't believe his good luck after having had the Raylicon teams always come in last at Olympic-level track meets for years just to discover that the Undercity has athletes who run like the wind.
Ms. Asaro's previous Skolian Imperialate series focused on the family which had the top Kyle genes and made faster-than-light communication possible, Skolia's only advantage against their mortal enemies, the Traders.
Turns out that not only can the Undercity athletes run but a sizable percentage of this forgotten population also have the top Kyle genes.
So, I am enjoying seeing the Skolian Empire from the point of view of the Undercity folks on the planet Raylicon who have NONE of the advantages which the Skolian ruling families have enjoyed for years but have their own society of which they can justly be proud.
January 1, 2026
The Dust Knights are training with a track club from the city of Cries. They’re doing it just for the food and clean water, for the coach it turns into much more. It turns out that these runners aren’t just among the best on Raylicon, they are Olympic quality. In order to qualify for the Olympics they’ll have to compete in a sanctioned meet. They have all along gotten grief from the above city, when they go off planet it’s more of the same. Meanwhile Angel is starting her job as a telop, something reserved for people with high Kyle rating. It has just been discovered that residents of the Undercity are much more likely to be empaths. Rather than being the throwaway dust rats, they have a valuable asset. As we’ve learned in the prior books they’re people with a rich culture, not criminals. Kiro is the son of a wealthy family. When he comes to practice he very quickly forms a bond with Strider’s gang. Very unusual that a rich kid from Cries gets that close to Undercity kids.
A lot of characters we’ve been introduced to in previous books. Not necessary to read the earlier works first, but I recommend you read the series in order, having a feel for the characters and how they are progressing is part of the lure. The description of the races, there were several, had the feel of battle scenes. There was some corporate intrigue with Scorpio trying to take over Abyss, and somehow the two powerful punker gangs from the Undercity are involved. Also intrigue about parentage, how is it that Kiro is such an empath? Several storylines with the Olympic one taking the forefront. 4.7 stars
A lot of characters we’ve been introduced to in previous books. Not necessary to read the earlier works first, but I recommend you read the series in order, having a feel for the characters and how they are progressing is part of the lure. The description of the races, there were several, had the feel of battle scenes. There was some corporate intrigue with Scorpio trying to take over Abyss, and somehow the two powerful punker gangs from the Undercity are involved. Also intrigue about parentage, how is it that Kiro is such an empath? Several storylines with the Olympic one taking the forefront. 4.7 stars
September 23, 2025
Gold Dust, by Catherine Assaro, is the second Dust Knights novel. This is an exciting standalone story with a large cast of characters that centers around the Undercity kids who have joined the Raylicon Olympic team and their teammates. There is Bhaaj, a retired and decorated military officer turned private investigator and track and field coach. Mason, the city of Cries coach who discovers that the Undercity people are athletic prodigies. Angel, a strong psychic from the Undercity who is constantly underestimated by her city instructors. Ruzik, Angel’s husband and a great distance runner. Dice, heir to the Undercity’s Vakaar crime syndicate. Shiv, heir to the Undercity’s Kaja crime syndicate. Tam, a talented trans Undercity runner who is targeted multiple times because of her origin. Kiro, an incredibly strong empath from a wealthy and privileged family in the city of Cries. Hyden, an arrogant runner from another wealthy family who scorns all Undercity runners as beneath him, and Zee, Lamp, and Strider, Undercity runners who are drawn to Kiro and accept him into their family.
These kids just want to run, (and get food and clean water for their families) but are hit with prejudice and obstacles at multiple turns. Everyone “knows” that people from the Undercity are all no good, lazy, and stupid criminal thugs. At almost every race, the Undercity athletes are underestimated and ridiculed, accused of cheating when they win.
But this story is about more than that. There are surprising twists and revelations, power plays between two major corporations, all with family ties, interstellar intrigue, and a pair of star-crossed lovers. Can the city athletes look beyond their preconceived notions? Can the Undercity athletes overcome their many disadvantages and find acceptance? You’ll need to read to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more in this series.
These kids just want to run, (and get food and clean water for their families) but are hit with prejudice and obstacles at multiple turns. Everyone “knows” that people from the Undercity are all no good, lazy, and stupid criminal thugs. At almost every race, the Undercity athletes are underestimated and ridiculed, accused of cheating when they win.
But this story is about more than that. There are surprising twists and revelations, power plays between two major corporations, all with family ties, interstellar intrigue, and a pair of star-crossed lovers. Can the city athletes look beyond their preconceived notions? Can the Undercity athletes overcome their many disadvantages and find acceptance? You’ll need to read to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more in this series.
October 23, 2025
"It was time his people took their place among the vast, star-flung civilizations of humanity,"
If you have ever questioned the value of athletic scholarships, or the value of team sports and competition in youth programs, those threads in Gold Dust may leap out at you with particular strength. For me, they were highly relatable social commentary woven into an engaging story set in an intriguing universe.
Throughout this series Major Bhaajan has been mentoring the next generation in the Undercity. Now she is seeing the fruits of those labors. That next generation is stepping out of her shadow and gaining confidence as they show what they are truly capable of, and they are continuing to epitomize teamwork and community.
The PI case in this book is not just the sub plot, but really it feels like it is in third place. The Olympics are the main event. The character dynamics and relationships are next up, with a few specific threads tying for importance. Then, finally is the case du jour, which brings some of those threads together.
I really enjoyed Angel's learning to navigate Kyle space. Those descriptions really brought that part of the world to life. Likewise the dust gang Kiro joins was particularly powerful in showing how these units of four stand together and have one another's backs.
If you have ever questioned the value of athletic scholarships, or the value of team sports and competition in youth programs, those threads in Gold Dust may leap out at you with particular strength. For me, they were highly relatable social commentary woven into an engaging story set in an intriguing universe.
Throughout this series Major Bhaajan has been mentoring the next generation in the Undercity. Now she is seeing the fruits of those labors. That next generation is stepping out of her shadow and gaining confidence as they show what they are truly capable of, and they are continuing to epitomize teamwork and community.
The PI case in this book is not just the sub plot, but really it feels like it is in third place. The Olympics are the main event. The character dynamics and relationships are next up, with a few specific threads tying for importance. Then, finally is the case du jour, which brings some of those threads together.
I really enjoyed Angel's learning to navigate Kyle space. Those descriptions really brought that part of the world to life. Likewise the dust gang Kiro joins was particularly powerful in showing how these units of four stand together and have one another's backs.
December 1, 2025
In Catharine Asaro’s Gold Dust the characters who inhabit Raylicon’s subterranean world of the Down Deep are subjected to the harsh daylight of the City of Cries. Though they are handicapped by poverty and burdened by the negative expectations of the planet’s surface dwellers, Major Bhaajan’s Undercity athletes can outperform most of their more privileged competitors. Their race to overcome the obstacles that stand between them and Interstellar Olympic gold is more than a story of individual triumphs. Bhaajan and her friends know that the Undercity cannot survive without access to resources from the world above. The surface dwellers reluctantly realize that the Dust Knights incredible talents provide the only means for Raylicon to field a credible team. Asaro skillfully weaves the individual stories of an unlikely group of athletes against a rich tapestry of worldbuilding. Raylicon, above and below, becomes a spectacular arena for a group of compelling characters who seek a chance to excel, to save themselves and their way of life. When the competition is rigged against Raylicon, the only way that the young athletes from Cries and the Undercity can hope to win is by leaping the hurdles of their own prejudices and breaking through the mindsets that keep them from becoming a true team. Can't wait for more of the series!
November 17, 2025
This review is coming from a fan of Asaro's previous works, shading my opinion with bias and familiarity with the universe, but I thoroughly enjoyed this installation of the famous Bhaaj and her Dust Knights.
The theme of this book spoke to me especially because I am a (casual) runner, and I have spectated marathons/triathlons before. But really, if you're going to read a story about the Olympics, you might as well read about Olympics in spaaace! I even caught myself pretending to be Tam in my most recent workout.
There is a really huge host of characters, which can be hard to juggle mentally, but Asaro made me care about each of them. I enjoyed the new ones like Kiro and Hayden, whose plotlines have fun twists. There's also exciting developments of treasured characters, which I can't spoil. Go read it.
4.5 stars, rounded up for my longstanding love of the series in general.
The theme of this book spoke to me especially because I am a (casual) runner, and I have spectated marathons/triathlons before. But really, if you're going to read a story about the Olympics, you might as well read about Olympics in spaaace! I even caught myself pretending to be Tam in my most recent workout.
There is a really huge host of characters, which can be hard to juggle mentally, but Asaro made me care about each of them. I enjoyed the new ones like Kiro and Hayden, whose plotlines have fun twists. There's also exciting developments of treasured characters, which I can't spoil. Go read it.
4.5 stars, rounded up for my longstanding love of the series in general.
November 30, 2025
Catherine Asaro has been writing about the Skolian Imperialate for almost thirty years. The ancient, harsh undercity of the world of Raylicon has people who run all the time. It makes sense to send them to the Galactic Olympics to try for the Gold Dust of medals. Major Bhajaan, as one of the coaches, has to help deal with the politics of both the huge Eubian Concord and Earth. This is basically a tale of poor athletes from the wrong side of the tracks having to deal with prejudice that go on to do well, but there is enough Skolian politics to add a science fiction veneer.
October 13, 2025
Lots of plot threads to the point where one seemed a bit undeveloped, but the underdog Olympic track and field team had lots of heart. I am invested in these characters.
October 20, 2025
Another excellent entry in this series, broadening out the cast a little in a way that promises more books to come.
October 26, 2025
Olympic Battle
Young athletes find love amid the struggle to compete in the interstellar Olympics. And to survive gang rivalries and interstellar forces. Very well done.
Young athletes find love amid the struggle to compete in the interstellar Olympics. And to survive gang rivalries and interstellar forces. Very well done.
November 1, 2025
Another great book
Catherine gives us a story that is excellent. Using the interplanetary Olympics was an inspired plot device. Very well done!
L
Catherine gives us a story that is excellent. Using the interplanetary Olympics was an inspired plot device. Very well done!
L
January 15, 2026
A fantastic addition to the Dust Knight series. It was absolutely engrossing and I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews