Let's make this birthday one to remember.

65 years old (Born on July 28, 1959)

Happy birthday to the prolific William T. Vollmann—whose boundless imagination has gifted us unforgettable odysseys like the epic Seven Dreams series and bold explorations of life, as vividly chronicled in your audacious Prostitution trilogy. With every new narrative you craft—and let's face it: they're never short!—you've reminded readers why they fell for literature's ability to disturb, entertain, provoke thought (and occasionally require a sturdy bookshelf).

Winning that National Book Award for "Europe Central" surely was an outstanding achievement—but knowing you, you're probably halfway through writing another masterpiece right now that's even longer than all previous ones combined! Celebrate big; may your next novel be shorter only if desired—or at least capable of being lifted without assistance from friends or heavy machinery. Happy Birthday!