The souls of the dead are real, immortal - and escaping in billions from the Beyond to possess the living, dragging whole planets out of the cosmos in their quest to find the heaven denied them in this universe. But the dead are also discovering they're making a terrible and terrifying mistake...This realization won't save the 900-world Confederation from shattering into anarchy. The military campaign to exorcise just one small colony has strained Confederation resources to the utmost. Desperate to survive, richer worlds are preparing to sacrifice the rest of humanity to the Possessed.