Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose books on the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him both fame and scorn, has died at age 90. Von Däniken’s representatives announced on his website on Sunday that he had died the previous day in a hospital in central Switzerland. Von Däniken gained fame in 1968 with "Chariots of the Gods," claiming ancient cultures were visited by alien astronauts. Despite criticism from the scientific community, his books sold 60 million copies in 32 languages. He faced financial troubles and legal issues throughout his life but remained committed to his theories.
