If you're looking for some thrilling science fiction reading this summer, you could do worse (maybe) than Lean 9001: The Battle For The Arctic Rose, a novel that's designed to teach you to implement the ISO 9001 and "lean" quality improvement standards. It takes place in the year 7278, and follows cut-throat competitors Mark Alexander with the Arctic Rose Company and Damar Iratus with the Krote Corporation as they "apply divergent approaches to achieving quality and customer satisfaction." A press release from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers promises: "Anyone involved with integrating quality management systems and lean will enjoy this story." [Reliable Plant]

Send an email to Charlie Jane Anders, the author of this post, at .