Quinto's Challenge

by Peter McChesney

For fans of Andy Weir, Blake Crouch, and The Three-Body Problem comes a bold, futuristic, genre-bending debut challenging the conventions of religion, science, and political power.

On the 100th anniversary of JFK’s challenge to land a man on the Moon, visionary US President Vince Quinto challenges America with an even more audacious goal: finding a way to conquer death before the century is out by turning human resurrection into a scientific reality.

As the 21st century draws to a close, advances in genetics, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence converge to make Quinto’s Challenge possible. The final breakthrough—hailed as the Theory of Everything—is made by Deeley Carr, a young, shy quantum physicist recruited to work on a top-secret US government project.

However, those privy to this highly classified science quickly realize that the power to bring about immortality is a double-edged sword—if it falls into the wrong hands, it would become the ultimate weapon of surveillance and control, a tool for the subjugation of all.

“Quinto’s Challenge” is a timely dissection of the burgeoning use of AI and its ethical implications in the scientific, political, and religious realms. A cannot miss debut that raises needling questions about the future of humanity.

Genres: Science Fiction

Paperback

Expected publication January 27, 2026

About the author

Born and raised on the beaches of eastern Australia, Peter McChesney is a dual US-Australian citizen whose path has taken him from academia to corporate America—and now, to storytelling. His passion for writing began early, especially after his parents bought him an Amiga 500 computer, which he used not only for games but also to craft stories and fuel his imagination.

He holds degrees in Writing and Publishing (Western Sydney University), Law and Constitutional Studies, and a master’s in Political Science (both from Utah State University). Each of these disciplines now finds expression in his fiction—particularly in his enduring fascination with America’s founding era and the novel’s geopolitical themes.

Peter has worked as an adjunct instructor in US history and political science, with most of his career spent in business-to-business software sales. He also led several teams that trained some of the world’s most advanced real-world artificial intelligence.

Quinto’s Challenge is his debut novel and the first in a planned series that will explore the ethical, societal, and existential consequences should science ever advance far enough to make human resurrection possible. The story examines the tension between spiritual ideas and scientific ambition, reflecting Peter’s own formative influences from both faith and reason.

He lives in the United States with his family and dog, and still enjoys gaming when time permits. Find out more about Peter at https://www.petermcchesney.com/.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a treat, I love it when books talk a lot about science, especially when it is central to the plot. Deeley is hired by CAPR, a top-secret government agency to assist with making Quinto's challenge of resurrecting the dead to come true. Working with two androids, Xina and Xara, Deeley is able to have a breakthrough that will change everything. But despite this, the real challenges lie ahead. President Gates' term is coming to an end, and if Benson succeeds him, all research will be put to an end. And in order to start attempting resurrection, they must upgrade Xara - which is currently illegal.

Deeley is such a lovable character. She is very shy and introverted yet extremely smart. I also love the characterization of the androids, who feel like they could be human, which helps this book in making it truly feel like the future. All of the characters in the book are very well developed and seem like real people that could exist. While I am not a science buff, this novel was truly enjoyable to read and I would definitely recommend reading it.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinto’s Challenge is a bold, high concept, and intellectually provocative sci fi debut that pushes the boundaries of scientific possibility, ethical power, and political ambition. Peter McChesney delivers a story that blends futuristic science with philosophical depth, offering a narrative that feels urgent, expansive, and astonishingly relevant to the world we’re entering.

The premise alone is electrifying: on the 100th anniversary of JFK’s Moon landing challenge, President Vince Quinto sets forth an even more audacious vision nothing less than the scientific conquest of death itself. This concept is executed with remarkable clarity and imagination, grounding speculative futurism in real scientific principles drawn from genetics, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence.

Deeley Carr emerges as a particularly compelling protagonist quiet, brilliant, and suddenly thrust into the center of the most consequential scientific project in human history. His breakthrough, hailed as the Theory of Everything, becomes the foundation for a new era… or a potential global catastrophe. This duality is the beating heart of the novel.

McChesney skillfully navigates the tension between innovation and danger, exploring how immortality if made possible would instantly become humanity’s most coveted tool and its greatest threat. The political, religious, and technological implications are woven into a narrative that is as thrilling as it is thought provoking.

For fans of Andy Weir, Blake Crouch, and The Three Body Problem, Quinto’s Challenge hits the sweet spot between hard science, riveting tension, and big idea storytelling. It’s a debut that poses uncomfortable questions about control, surveillance, power, and what it truly means to be human in a world where death is no longer inevitable.

This is a standout, conversation starting sci fi novel with major potential across futurism platforms, science driven media, tech podcasts, speculative fiction reviewers, and communities that gravitate toward narrative explorations of AI, ethics, and the future of humanity.

[Michael Culbertson]

Suppose that all past events have been encoded in a hidden quantum layer of the universe. Now suppose that we can extract neural patterns (memories) from this quantum layer and implant them in a clone, reconstituting deceased individuals. What social and political consequences would follow?

The marketing copy invoking Blake Crouch and Andy Weir is perhaps overly ambitious—Quinto’s Challenge has neither Crouch’s pacing nor Weir’s scientific detail, but the comparison with The Three-Body Problem may be apt: Both are idea-driven novels. In Quinto’s Challenge, character and plot play supporting roles in an exploration of the ethical and practical issues entailed by technology permitting artificial resurrection. The exploration seems only to graze the surface of these profound questions, but McChesney may be using this first novel to set the stage for more-thorough investigation of these issues in the rest of his series.

Thanks to Vivimus Press and NetGalley for providing a review copy of this novel.

[Katie May · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a book for the hard core sci fi readers. I think the premise actually tackles a lot of really important real world topics that we may be facing in the fairly near future. How does AI play into all this? “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should” type of questions. If you’re into longer super detailed books, this is the book for you. However for me, I think it could have used some tightening up.

I think the book was just too long for me to keep me fully engaged. The world building and science are delivered through long speeches and documents, which is a clever idea but it became so inundated with them that I found myself skimming through them (and I probably missed some things). If they were less frequent and maybe more concise, would have served better I think. It began to get a little repetitive as well.

Excellent concept, very thought provoking, the execution was just not fully for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.

[Tara]

Quinto’s Challenge is a bold, thought-provoking debut that tackles humanity’s most enduring obsession, immortality, through a sharp blend of science, politics, and ethical inquiry. Peter McChesney crafts a sweeping futuristic narrative that feels both visionary and unsettling, grounding high-concept ideas in believable scientific advancement and human consequence.

What truly distinguishes this novel is its fearless examination of power. As genetic engineering, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence converge, the story raises urgent questions about surveillance, control, and who should wield godlike technology. The tension between progress and morality is expertly sustained, making Quinto’s Challenge not just an entertaining read, but a timely reflection on where humanity may be headed. A compelling work that will strongly resonate with fans of intelligent, idea-driven science fiction.

[David Carriere]

Quinto’s Challenge is an ambitious and intellectually gripping science fiction debut that dares to confront humanity’s most enduring obsession: immortality. Blending speculative science with political tension and ethical inquiry, Peter McChesney crafts a future that feels both visionary and unsettlingly plausible. The convergence of quantum physics, AI, and genetics is handled with confidence, while the human cost of such progress remains sharply in focus. At its core, this novel is not just about defeating death, but about who controls life, power, and truth when science surpasses morality. A timely, provocative read that will strongly resonate with fans of high concept, idea driven science fiction.

[Julia M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The mix of sci-fi, politics, and religion was very interesting, and, at times, it was a bit eerie to feel that a future that McChesney has created might not stray too far from where we're heading. This is a timely book that examines resurrection. Should we strive to make this a reality through science? Is it ethical? Is the advancement of AI ethical? Lots of questions to noodle over here.

For folks who like Dark Matter or Andy Weir (especially for the accessibility of scientific concepts in fiction), then this is a must-read.

[Travis Butler · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is well written. It learns more towards hard sci-fi and that genre isn't for me.