Chariots of the Gods: Unsolved Mysteries of the Past - Tapa blanda

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Erich von Däniken is arguably the most widely read and most-copied nonfiction author in the world. He published his first (and best-known) book, Chariots of the Gods, in 1968. The worldwide best-seller and was followed by 32 more books, including The Eyes of the Sphinx, Twilight of the Gods, History Is Wrong, Evidence of the Gods, and Odyssey of the Gods. His works have been translated into 28 languages and have sold more than 63 million copies. Several have also been made into films. Von Däniken's ideas have been the inspiration for a wide range of TV series, including the History Channel's hit Ancient Aliens. He lives in Switzerland but is an ever-present figure on the international lecture circuit.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Are There Intelligent Beings in the Cosmos?

Chapter 2 - When Our Spaceship Landed on Earth ...

Chapter 3 - The Improbable World of the Unexplained

Chapter 4 - Was God an Astronaut?

Chapter 5 - Fiery Chariots from the Heavens

Chapter 6 - Ancient Imagination and Legends, or Ancient Facts?

Chapter 7 - Ancient Marvels or Space Travel Centers?

Chapter 8 - Easter Island—Land of the Bird Men

Chapter 9 - The Mysteries of South America and Other Oddities

Chapter 10 - The Earth’s Experience of Space

Chapter 11 - The Search for Direct Communication

Chapter 12 - Tomorrow

Bibliography

Index

Berkley Books by Erich von Däniken

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS
SIGNS OF THE GODS
PATHWAYS TO THE GODS

Most Berkley Books are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. Special books, or book excerpts, can also be created to fit specific needs.

For details, write: Special Markets, The Berkley Publishing Group, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS

A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
G. P. Putnam’s Sons edition / February 1970
G. P. Putnam / Berkley Medallion edition / April 1977
Berkley mass market edition / September 1980
Berkley trade paperback edition / January 1999

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 1999 by Erich von Däniken.

Copyright © 1968 by Econ-Verlag GMBH.

English translation © 1969 by Michael Heron and Souvenir Press. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is http://www.penguinputnam.com

ISBN: 9781101076125

BERKLEY®

Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

BERKLEY and the “B” design are trademarks belonging to Berkley Publishing Corporation.

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Foreword

It was more than a quarter of a century ago—in February 1968—that my first book, Memories of the Future, was published by Econ, a German publisher. I had written the book two years earlier, but rejection letters from publishers fluttered on my desk with great regularity: “Sorry, not usable for our program ... ,” “We are very sorry ... ,” “We don’t want to go this way ... ,” “We recommend a more esoteric publisher....”

In later years I was often asked how this publishing miracle happened, to finally place this controversial work with a renowned textbook house. Today I can finally confess: with outside help and a little discretion.

I met Dr. Thomas von Randow, then the science editor of the weekly Die Zeit, in the summer of 1967. He leafed through the neatly typed manuscript, examined some of the peculiar pictures, and decided, “This is not for us. You have to publish it as a book.”

“And how does one find a publisher?”

Dr. von Randow puffed on his pipe, looked me straight in the eyes: “I do know a publisher. I could just give him a noncommittal call, if you wish.”

He picked up the telephone and asked to be connected with Dr. Erwin Barth von Wehrenalp, the chief of Econ Publishing. The blood rushed to my head. After all, I knew what Dr. von Randow could not know: My manuscript had already been turned down by Econ. Naturally, the ensuing conversation stuck in my gray brain cells.