Recommended reading - Unknown Man #89, by Elmore Leonard (1977):

Unknown Man #89

By Elmore Leonard.

Published by Mariner Books.

First published 1977.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 006218928X

ISBN-13: 978-0062189288

Description:

“The greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever!” – The New York Times Book Review.

“An absolute master.” – The Detroit News.

“No one is Leonard’s equal,” declares the Chicago Tribune – and anyone who might doubt it would only have to read Elmore Leonard’s riveting noir classic, Unknown Man #89, to become a true believer.

Detroit process server Jack Ryan has a reputation for being the best in the business at finding people who don't want to be found. Now he's looking for a missing stockholder known only as "Unknown Man No. 89." But his missing man isn't "unknown" to everyone: a pretty blonde hates his guts and a very nasty dude named Royal wants him dead in the worst way. Which is very unfortunate for Jack Ryan, who is suddenly caught in the crossfire of a lethal triple-cross and as much a target as his nameless prey.

The twisty tale of a Detroit process server whose search for a missing stockholder leads him into more serious peril than he ever imagined possible, Unknown Man #89 is a gourmet stew of mystery, suspense, and double and triple cross, peppered with the razor-sharp dialogue for which Grand Master Leonard is justifiably famous.

Exhilarating old-school crime fiction that the late, great John D. MacDonald, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Robert Parker would have been proud to call their own, Unknown Man #89 is a gem – nothing less than we’d expect from the man who created the incomparable U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of the hit TV series Justified.

Born on this day – James Van Der Beek:

James Van Der Beek

Actor

Writer

March 8, 1977 – February 11, 2026

Credits:

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On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 23.

Episode entitled: The Immunity Syndrome.

Released March 6, 1977.

Directed by Bob Brooks.

Written by Johnny Byrne.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Nadim Sawalha, Karl Held, Sam Dastor, John Hug, Hal Galili, Alibe Parsons, Walter McMonagle, Roy Boyd, Jenny Cresswell, Harry Fielder, Jack Klaff, Quentin Pierre, Robert Reeves.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 21.

Episode entitled: Dorzak.

Released February 27, 1977.

Directed by Val Guest.

Written by Christopher Penfold.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Lee Montague, Jill Townsend, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Sam Dastor, Seretta Wilson, Richard Le Parmentier, Yasuko Nagazumi, Paul Jerricho, John Judd, Jenny Cresswell, Quentin Pierre, Marc Smith.

On this day in movie history - Slap Shot (1977):

Slap Shot

directed by George Roy Hill,

written by Nancy Dowd,

was released in the United States on February 25, 1977.

Music by Elmer Bernstein.

Cast:

Paul Newman, Strother Martin, Michael Ontkean, Jennifer Warren, Lindsay Crouse, Jerry Houser, Andrew Duncan, Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson, David Hanson, Yvon Barrette, Allan Nicholls, Brad Sullivan, Stephen Mendillo, Yvan Ponton, Matthew Cowles, Kathryn Walker, Melinda Dillon, M. Emmet Walsh, Swoosie Kurtz, Paul D'Amato, Ronald L. Docken, Guido Tenesi, Jean Rosario Tetreault, Christopher Murney, Blake Ball, Ned Dowd, Nancy N. Dowd, Barbara L. Shorts, Larry Block, Paul Dooley, Dan Belisle, Jr., Rod Bloomfield, Bruce Boudreau, Galen Head, Susan Kendall, Connie Madigan, Mark Bousquet, John Gofton, Rod Masters, Joe Nolan, Dick Roberge, Ray Schultz, Carol Shelton, Ross Smith, Steve Stirling, Cliff Thompson.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 19.

Episode entitled: The Bringers of Wonder: Part 2.

Released February 20, 1977.

Directed by Tom Clegg.

Written by Terence Feely.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Jeffery Kissoon, Toby Robins, Stuart Damon, Jeremy Young, Drewe Henley, Patrick Westwood, Cher Cameron, Al Lampert, Billy J. Mitchell, Earl Robinson, Robert Sheedy, Nicholas Young, Albin Pahernik, Glenda Allen, Peter Brayham, Sarah Bullen, Jenny Cresswell, Joe Dunne, Roy Everson, Nick Hobbs, David Jackson, Quentin Pierre.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 18.

Episode entitled: The Bringers of Wonder: Part 1.

Released February 13, 1977.

Directed by Tom Clegg.

Written by Terence Feely.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Jeffery Kissoon, Toby Robins, Stuart Damon, Jeremy Young, Drewe Henley, Patrick Westwood, Cher Cameron, Al Lampert, Billy J. Mitchell, Earl Robinson, Robert Sheedy, Nicholas Young, Albin Pahernik, Glenda Allen, Peter Brayham, Sarah Bullen, Jenny Cresswell, Joe Dunne, David Jackson, Robert Reeves, Roy Scammell.

On this day in movie history - Wizards (1977):

Wizards

directed and written by Ralph Bakshi,

was released in the United States on February 9, 1977.
Narrated by Susan Tyrrell.
Music by Andrew Belling.

Cast:

Bob Holt, Jesse Welles, Richard Romanus, David Proval, Steve Gravers, James Connell, Mark Hamill, Susan Tyrrell, Ralph Bakshi, Angelo Grisanti.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 20.

Episode entitled: The Seance Spectre.

Released February 6, 1977.

Directed by Peter Medak.

Written by Donald James.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Ken Hutchison, Carolyn Seymour, Nigel Pegram, James Snell, Gyearbuor Asante, Jenny Cresswell, Harry Fielder, Quentin Pierre, Robert Reeves, Claire Russell, Terry Walsh, Paul Weston.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 9.
Episode entitled: All That Glisters.
Released January 30, 1977.
Directed by Ray Austin.
Written by Keith Miles.
Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.
Music by Derek Wadsworth.
Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Patrick Mower, Barbara Kelly.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 4.

Episode entitled: One Moment of Humanity.

Released January 23, 1977.

Directed by Charles Crichton.

Written by Tony Barwick.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Billie Whitelaw, Leigh Lawson, Geoffrey Bayldon, Glenda Allen, Jürgen Andersen, Sarah Bullen, Micky Clarke, Zena Clifton, Maggie Henderson, Laraine Humphrys, Robert Reeves, Barry Rohde, Pam Rose.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 17.

Episode entitled: The Lambda Factor.

Released January 16, 1977.

Directed by Charles Crichton.

Written by Terrance Dicks.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, Deborah Fallender, Jess Conrad, Anthony Stamboulieh, Michael Walker, Gregory de Polnay, Lydia Lisle, Lucinda Curtis, Dallas Adams, Glenda Allen, Jenny Cresswell, Harry Fielder, Quentin Pierre, Robert Reeves, Shane Rimmer, Pam Rose.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 16.

Episode entitled: The Beta Cloud.

Released January 9, 1977.

Directed by Robert Lynn.

Written by Pip Baker, Jane Baker.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton, David Prowse, John Hug, Albin Pahernik, Joe Dunne, Roy Everson, Harry Fielder, Robert Reeves.

On this day in television history - Space 1999 (1977):

Space 1999

Season 2. Episode 15.

Episode entitled: A Matter of Balance.

Released January 2, 1977.

Directed by Charles Crichton.

Written by Pip Baker, Jane Baker.

Series created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson.

Music by Derek Wadsworth.

Cast: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell, Tony Anholt, Lynne Frederick, Stuart Wilson, John Hug, Nicholas Campbell, Brian Osborne, Jenny Cresswell, Robert Reeves, Terry Richards.

On this day in movie history - Opening Night (1977):

Opening Night

directed and written by John Cassavetes,

was released in the United States on December 25, 1977.
Music by Bo Harwood.

Cast:

Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara, Joan Blondell, Paul Stewart, Zohra Lampert, Laura Johnson, John Tuell, Ray Powers, John Finnegan, Louise Lewis, Fred Draper, Katherine Cassavetes, Lady Rowlands, Carol Warren, Briana Carver, Angelo Grisanti, Meade Roberts, Eleanor Zee, David Rowlands, Sharon Van Ivan, Jimmy Christie, James Karen, Jimmy Joyce, Sherry Bain, Sylvia Davis Shaw, Peter Lampert, Josh Becker, Peter Bogdanovich, Seymour Cassel, Robert Dassanowsky, Peter Falk, Jana Howard, Ronisue Kiser, William Kramer, Patrick Labyorteaux, Robert Leader, Naomi Stevens.

On this day in movie history - The Incredible Melting Man (1977 movie & book):

The Incredible Melting Man

directed and written by William Sachs,

released in New York City, on December 23, 1977.

Music by Arlon Ober.

Cast:

Alex Rebar, Burr DeBenning, Myron Healey, Michael Alldredge, Ann Sweeny, Lisle Wilson, Cheryl Smith / Rainbeaux Smith, Julie Drazen, Stuart Edmond Rodgers, Chris Witney, Edwin Max, Dorothy Love, Janus Blythe, Jonathan Demme, Westbrook Claridge, DeForest Covan, Samuel W. Gelfman / Sam Gelfman, Bonnie Inch, Mickey Lolich, Keith Michl, Leigh Mitchell, Don Walters, Newell Alexander, Rosemary Alexander / Rosemary Lovell, Dave Hull, Jennifer Mulaire, Rob Bottin, Jim Inch, Robert J. Koster.

Recommended reading:

The Incredible Melting Man

By Phil Smith.

Published by New English Library.

Published 1978.

Paperback.

ISBN 13: 9780450038617

ISBN 10: 0450038610

ASIN: 0450038610

Description:

Three astronauts had returned safely from the Mars Landing.

Two were dead and Steve West was on the run.

On the run from the quarantine hospital which had been treating him … from the authorities who has to conceal his escape at all costs … from his friend Ted Nelson … and from the dreadful organism which had taken possession of his flesh, turning him into a fiendish nightmare but leaving his mind intact to cringe from the murderous horror he had become.

On this day in movie history - The Gauntlet (1977):

The Gauntlet

directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Michael Butler and Dennis Shryack,

was released in the United States on December 21, 1977.
Music by Jerry Fielding.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney, Michael Cavanaugh, Carole Cook, Mara Corday, Doug McGrath, Jeff Morris, Samantha Doane, Roy Jenson, Dan Vadis, Carver Barnes, Robert Barrett, Teddy Bear, Mildred Brion, Ron Chapman, Don Circle, James W. Gavin, Thomas H. Friedkin, Darwin Lamb, Roger Lowe, Fritz Manes, John Quiroga, Josef Rainer, Art Rimdzius, Al Silvani, Michael L. Cooley, Marneen Fields, Dennis Jenkins, Mike Mangiaruca, Butch Price, Terry D. Seago, Steve Wargo, Tom Willett.