I sometimes fantasize about writing the Great American Novel (New Zealand version). In such a novel, naturally the hero would use operations research to achieve success and insight. But when I think about such a novel, my imagination fails me: how can I possibly make OR interesting in the context of fiction?
She: Oh Biff, How can we ever be together?
Biff: Well, if I just solve this Traveling Salesman Problem using Concorde, I will be there as quickly as I can.
She: My hero!
Ummm…. no. But the comic xkcd periodically has an OR theme, like solving knapsack problems. You know you are a nerd when you solve the instance given by the comic (hint: they better like fruit in one solution, but the solution is not unique).
They should have used the Diet Problem in Lost. 🙂