Empire's Passing

Earth is destroyed by the Goth Alliance. The Emperor of the star-spanning Imperium dies in the attack and thousands of worlds face an interstellar Dark Age as Pretenders compete for the throne and the Goths rampage unchecked. The Goth Alliance is led by a High Priestess under the influence of a parasite inhabiting her brain, giving her mind control powers over humanoids, but requiring deaths of humanoids to survive and procreate. Unfortunately, Humans taste best of all humanoid species, particularly when they die during sex. Her visions of future timelines show Humans as her biggest threat. Her offspring have spread across much of inhabited space. Duke Michael of the planet New Meyer struggles to keep his world and those of his space-jump chute safe in the increasing chaos as the Imperium disintegrates. He's faced with the choice of trying to defend his world or a long shot attempt to save the Imperium that makes New Meyer an even bigger target. Then a billion year old race with the ability to bend space and time and who consider Humans as one of their Chosen Races, intervenes to protect their investment. Now Humans must fight one of the oldest wars of all: temptation. Empire's Passing is a modern version of an old-fashioned space potboiler with a twist of horror thrown in. Writing as JW Morris, Joseph W. Morris began his love affair with science fiction when his third grade teacher introduced him to Tom Swift. Since then he has worked to make SF a reality as an aerospace engineer and innovator. This is his first book, and the first book in the Imperium Succession Saga.