Let's make this birthday one to remember.

86 years old (Born on April 24, 1939)

Happy Birthday, Brian Garfield! For a man who proved that suspense and clever wit can coexist perfectly—your legendary tales such as "Death Wish" and "Hopscotch" continue to thrill (and make us chuckle) even today. Who knew revenge and espionage could be so stylishly fun?

And let's not forget your Pulitzer nomination for "The Thousand-Mile War." Only you could transform the frozen battlefields of WWII Alaska into storytelling gold. May this birthday find you skipping over life's troubles just like Miles Kendig eluding the CIA, with sly charm and a mischievous wink—only fewer explosions involved, we hope!