Nearly half of all Americans believe in existence of extraterrestrials, and many are also convinced that aliens have visited Earth at some point in history. Included in such popular beliefs is the notion that so-called ancient astronauts (visitors from outer space) were responsible for wonders like the Pyramids. Shocking new evidence proves that the entire genre is based on fictional horror stories, whose author once wrote that they never wished to mislead anyone. In this entertaining and informative book, the author traces the origins of a belief in these visitors to the work of H P Lovecraft (1890-1937). This amazing tale takes the reader through 50 years of pop culture and pseudoscience highlighting a number of influential figures and developments. Beyond documenting Lovecraft's influence on ancient astronaut theories and Raelian cloning efforts, Colavito also argues that the appeal of such myths is a troubling sign on an age when science is having its greatest success. He suggests that at the dawn of the 21st century Western society is witnessing a deep-seated erosion of Enlightenment values that are the basis of a modern world.