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All the Moonlight on Earth
"A superior SF thriller with universally relatable moods of loss, regret, and longing." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In an alternate 1957, portal technology ends the space race before it can begin. But when a young girl slips through and is stranded on the moon, her father must confront his past mistakes to bring her home.
For Fans of Dan Brown and Markus Zusak...
A year after the tragic loss of his wife, Gillen Rainer is struggling to find closure. Unanswered questions linger even for his thirteen-year-old daughter, Allaire, who seeks solace in a memory far beyond her recollection.
As Sputnik orbits the globe every ninety-six minutes, Gillen and his team are set to announce a surprise of their own. The Alignment—a portal connecting the earth and the moon—is ready for visitors, effectively ending the space race.
But when his daughter decides to set foot on the moon… alone, Gillen must confront his deepest fears and the true cost of his decisions. In this romantic literary drama, with the soul of sci-fi, Gillen embarks on a perilous journey that forces him to grapple with the ultimate Can he reclaim his future by rescuing what he’s lost?
In an alternate 1957, portal technology ends the space race before it can begin. But when a young girl slips through and is stranded on the moon, her father must confront his past mistakes to bring her home.
For Fans of Dan Brown and Markus Zusak...
A year after the tragic loss of his wife, Gillen Rainer is struggling to find closure. Unanswered questions linger even for his thirteen-year-old daughter, Allaire, who seeks solace in a memory far beyond her recollection.
As Sputnik orbits the globe every ninety-six minutes, Gillen and his team are set to announce a surprise of their own. The Alignment—a portal connecting the earth and the moon—is ready for visitors, effectively ending the space race.
But when his daughter decides to set foot on the moon… alone, Gillen must confront his deepest fears and the true cost of his decisions. In this romantic literary drama, with the soul of sci-fi, Gillen embarks on a perilous journey that forces him to grapple with the ultimate Can he reclaim his future by rescuing what he’s lost?
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2024
27 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Muehlbauer
2 books22 followersJesse Muehlbauer is an American novelist and essayist. Author of the award-winning sci-fi romantic drama, All the Moonlight on Earth, and the philosophical mystery thriller, The Artificial Conspiracy, Jesse’s novels have won the acclaim of critics and readers alike. He has lived on both coasts and now resides in his hometown of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with his lovely and brilliant wife, Poe.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 1, 2024
A story set during the time Sputnik was whizzing its way around the earth.
September 25, 2023
All the Moonlight on Earth.” The title hints that this debut novel by Jesse Muehlbauer is going to be a poignant read. It is that, without a doubt. Yet it offers so much more. Set in 1957, this story bears elements of science fiction, suspense, historical fiction, and romance. However, it is immensely more than just the sum of its genres.
Set in a time when the Space Race was ramping up as the Russians successfully launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the Earth, a group of scientists in the US had clandestinely succeeded in the impossible. Citizens in the US worked themselves into mild mass hysteria over the concept that this Russian satellite was flying over them “every 96 minutes.” Yet the scientists and engineers at Iselin Amalgamate held a secret that would make Sputnik look like a child’s toy. They had quietly created a portal to the moon, which they called The Alignment. No need for heavy, expensive rockets and years of testing when a person could simply step into a portal and set foot on the moon.
Gillen Rainer is one of the masterminds of this project. He’s been a single father since his wife Cate lost her life on the Golden Gate Bridge a year ago. Their daughter, Allaire, is his world now as he balances the demands of his unusual work with Allaire’s dreams of Olympic skating glory. Gillen is still reeling from the loss of Cate, bearing the pain of her sudden death after a life of misery at the hands of a painful ailment.
Cate was an equation without a sum, and his fruitless attempts to solve it had left him with an infuriating truth. In some worlds, certain equations just didn’t work.
While Gillen is brilliant and driven, he is without a doubt a man who struggles with his demons daily. Now he’s overwhelmed with the knowledge that his daughter went through the portal without anyone’s knowledge and is alone on the moon.
Gillen is just one of many incredible characters Mr. Muehlbauer has brought to life here. There is strength, determination, and resilience in almost all of them. Yet many of them have been dealt hard blows by life and bear the scars to show for it. Not all the characters the reader is introduced to are fine, upstanding citizens, however. There are those that have less-than-noble motives, and personal agendas that don’t line up with the well-intentioned concept the portal designers had in mind.
Attempting to relay the astounding nature of this story as well as the complex personalities of the cast is difficult without sharing moments that are best left to the reader to discover within the story itself. So, in my effort to avoid ruining any of the delights the author has created for his readers, I’m not going to share much about these characters I grew to cherish, respect, adore, and/or loathe. I will simply share that they are each unique, most are genuine, and all are worthy of our attention.
When your best friend finds platinum, everything else is just gold.
The characters may have gotten my attention early, but it was the nature of the author’s writing that kept center-stage for me. Having written an original work that was both exciting and mind-numbing (in a good way), Jesse Muehlbauer presented his storyline in a completely unexpected style. It nearly defies description, but I’ll give it my best shot. Imagine reading a novel and feeling like you have fallen into an Alfred Hitchcock movie. It’s noir, a little angsty, ingenious…mystifying. It’s edgy, exciting, and whispers of great secrets to come. The reader follows along easily until the bottom drops out and the vertigo ensues. Readers will no longer be certain which direction is up or even which morality is respectable. During this story, you can expect to back up occasionally to reread paragraphs just to reposition yourself. It will happen.
This style goes well beyond what we typically refer to as “immersive” and into the aesthetically pleasing cinematic concept. Once the main events are set into motion, you will be trotting, running, outright racing headlong through the streets, buildings, cars, and streetcars of these locations as you attempt to keep up the frenetic pace of the characters. This is a photographic masterpiece in print that I want to see on the big screen. Even the graphics portrayed at the beginning of each chapter offer insight into mysteries.
The haunting truth found words as Gillen bowed his face before the window. “If I had access to all the moonlight on earth, I still couldn’t find Allaire.”
Fans of science fiction novels with excellent characterizations, suspense novels with break-neck pacing, or romantic suspense novels with brilliant writing will find depth and beauty here well worth your time. If you’re looking for a simple escapist read, this isn’t it. “All the Moonlight on Earth” by Jesse Muehlbauer is a story in which readers will want to savor the complexities and come away with lasting memories.
Set in a time when the Space Race was ramping up as the Russians successfully launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the Earth, a group of scientists in the US had clandestinely succeeded in the impossible. Citizens in the US worked themselves into mild mass hysteria over the concept that this Russian satellite was flying over them “every 96 minutes.” Yet the scientists and engineers at Iselin Amalgamate held a secret that would make Sputnik look like a child’s toy. They had quietly created a portal to the moon, which they called The Alignment. No need for heavy, expensive rockets and years of testing when a person could simply step into a portal and set foot on the moon.
Gillen Rainer is one of the masterminds of this project. He’s been a single father since his wife Cate lost her life on the Golden Gate Bridge a year ago. Their daughter, Allaire, is his world now as he balances the demands of his unusual work with Allaire’s dreams of Olympic skating glory. Gillen is still reeling from the loss of Cate, bearing the pain of her sudden death after a life of misery at the hands of a painful ailment.
Cate was an equation without a sum, and his fruitless attempts to solve it had left him with an infuriating truth. In some worlds, certain equations just didn’t work.
While Gillen is brilliant and driven, he is without a doubt a man who struggles with his demons daily. Now he’s overwhelmed with the knowledge that his daughter went through the portal without anyone’s knowledge and is alone on the moon.
Gillen is just one of many incredible characters Mr. Muehlbauer has brought to life here. There is strength, determination, and resilience in almost all of them. Yet many of them have been dealt hard blows by life and bear the scars to show for it. Not all the characters the reader is introduced to are fine, upstanding citizens, however. There are those that have less-than-noble motives, and personal agendas that don’t line up with the well-intentioned concept the portal designers had in mind.
Attempting to relay the astounding nature of this story as well as the complex personalities of the cast is difficult without sharing moments that are best left to the reader to discover within the story itself. So, in my effort to avoid ruining any of the delights the author has created for his readers, I’m not going to share much about these characters I grew to cherish, respect, adore, and/or loathe. I will simply share that they are each unique, most are genuine, and all are worthy of our attention.
When your best friend finds platinum, everything else is just gold.
The characters may have gotten my attention early, but it was the nature of the author’s writing that kept center-stage for me. Having written an original work that was both exciting and mind-numbing (in a good way), Jesse Muehlbauer presented his storyline in a completely unexpected style. It nearly defies description, but I’ll give it my best shot. Imagine reading a novel and feeling like you have fallen into an Alfred Hitchcock movie. It’s noir, a little angsty, ingenious…mystifying. It’s edgy, exciting, and whispers of great secrets to come. The reader follows along easily until the bottom drops out and the vertigo ensues. Readers will no longer be certain which direction is up or even which morality is respectable. During this story, you can expect to back up occasionally to reread paragraphs just to reposition yourself. It will happen.
This style goes well beyond what we typically refer to as “immersive” and into the aesthetically pleasing cinematic concept. Once the main events are set into motion, you will be trotting, running, outright racing headlong through the streets, buildings, cars, and streetcars of these locations as you attempt to keep up the frenetic pace of the characters. This is a photographic masterpiece in print that I want to see on the big screen. Even the graphics portrayed at the beginning of each chapter offer insight into mysteries.
The haunting truth found words as Gillen bowed his face before the window. “If I had access to all the moonlight on earth, I still couldn’t find Allaire.”
Fans of science fiction novels with excellent characterizations, suspense novels with break-neck pacing, or romantic suspense novels with brilliant writing will find depth and beauty here well worth your time. If you’re looking for a simple escapist read, this isn’t it. “All the Moonlight on Earth” by Jesse Muehlbauer is a story in which readers will want to savor the complexities and come away with lasting memories.
September 23, 2023
Mind-Boggling and Genre-Busting
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part romantic suspense, this powerhouse novel is not for those who want to sit back and fade into the black. This story simply demands the reader's attention with its thought-provoking plot and its too-real characters. Think: A.G. Riddle meets Alfred Hitchcock. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. But this story has an amazing noir feeling as it blows your mind.
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part romantic suspense, this powerhouse novel is not for those who want to sit back and fade into the black. This story simply demands the reader's attention with its thought-provoking plot and its too-real characters. Think: A.G. Riddle meets Alfred Hitchcock. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. But this story has an amazing noir feeling as it blows your mind.
August 26, 2025
⚫️If you're looking for a captivating read, "All the Moonlight on Earth" by Jesse Muehlbauer is a fantastic choice. This novel beautifully blends science fiction with historical twists and deeply human drama. Set in an alternate 1957, it explores how portal technology reshapes the space race before it even begins. But beneath this intriguing concept lies a poignant story about love, loss, and the lengths a father will go to save his child.
⚫️The protagonist, Gillen Rainer, grapples with the haunting memory of his wife's death while trying to raise his daughter, Allaire. When she vanishes through the Alignment a portal connecting Earth to the moon the story shifts from speculative wonder to a gripping tale of redemption. Gillen's perilous journey is not just about traversing great distances; it's also about confronting his past mistakes, his grief, and finding hope again.
⚫️Muehlbauer's writing is rich with vivid imagery and lyrical prose, skillfully blending technical brilliance with emotional resonance. The moon isn't just a backdrop; it symbolizes estrangement, loss, and the fragile bond between parent and child. Fans of Dan Brown will appreciate the tension and clever plot twists, while those who enjoy Markus Zusak's work will find the same bittersweet charm and poetic style that lingers long after the last page.
⚫️Ultimately, "All the Moonlight on Earth" transcends the sci-fi genre it's a profound exploration of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. This imaginative and heartfelt tale will captivate readers who cherish stories that intertwine creativity with raw human emotion. It's a truly unforgettable experience.
Happy reading ❤️✨
July 19, 2025
Sputnik, Portals, and the Pull of a Father’s Love
“All the Moonlight on Earth” reads like poetry wrapped in a thriller. Gillen’s struggle to save his daughter from the moon mirrors the emotional distances we all try to cross. It’s imaginative and intelligent, but at its heart—deeply human. Think Dan Brown intrigue with Zusak soul.
“All the Moonlight on Earth” reads like poetry wrapped in a thriller. Gillen’s struggle to save his daughter from the moon mirrors the emotional distances we all try to cross. It’s imaginative and intelligent, but at its heart—deeply human. Think Dan Brown intrigue with Zusak soul.
August 3, 2025
Sci-Fi with a Literary Soul
It’s not often you read a book that feels like The Book Thief in space. The lyrical prose, the vivid imagery, the quiet ache in every chapter—it’s a rare gem that leaves a lasting impression.
It’s not often you read a book that feels like The Book Thief in space. The lyrical prose, the vivid imagery, the quiet ache in every chapter—it’s a rare gem that leaves a lasting impression.
August 4, 2025
Sputnik Above, A Daughter Lost Below
The pacing is brilliant—tense, yet thoughtful. Muehlbauer plays with time and emotion like a maestro. The symbolism around Sputnik is haunting, echoing the book’s deeper themes of distance and regret.
The pacing is brilliant—tense, yet thoughtful. Muehlbauer plays with time and emotion like a maestro. The symbolism around Sputnik is haunting, echoing the book’s deeper themes of distance and regret.
August 7, 2025
A Cinematic Masterpiece in Book Form
This needs to be a film. The moon scenes are breathtaking, the emotional beats land with weight, and the world-building is seamless. One of the most immersive books I’ve read this year.
This needs to be a film. The moon scenes are breathtaking, the emotional beats land with weight, and the world-building is seamless. One of the most immersive books I’ve read this year.
August 8, 2025
Loss, Legacy, and Lunar Landscapes
Muehlbauer doesn’t just tell a story—he evokes an experience. From grief-stricken moments to visionary scientific breakthroughs, every page feels both intimate and grand.
Muehlbauer doesn’t just tell a story—he evokes an experience. From grief-stricken moments to visionary scientific breakthroughs, every page feels both intimate and grand.
August 9, 2025
❤️ A Portal to the Past, and a Mirror to the Present ❤️
Though set in an alternate history, the book’s emotional truths are strikingly present. It made me reflect on my own regrets and the fragile threads that connect us to the ones we love.
Though set in an alternate history, the book’s emotional truths are strikingly present. It made me reflect on my own regrets and the fragile threads that connect us to the ones we love.
August 10, 2025
Beautifully Wrecked Me
By the end, I felt gutted in the best way. If you want sci-fi that doesn’t just entertain but moves you—this is it. A gorgeously written story that will stay with me for a long, long time.
By the end, I felt gutted in the best way. If you want sci-fi that doesn’t just entertain but moves you—this is it. A gorgeously written story that will stay with me for a long, long time.
September 12, 2025
Really enjoyed this sci-fi novel. You experience love, loss, and the unexpected through the eyes of the main character Gillen. Oh yeah and a portal to the moon! The author takes you on an epic adventure unlike any other I have read.
August 1, 2025
For Every Parent Who’s Ever Felt Powerless
This book hit me in the gut. The way Gillen wrestles with his past and risks everything for his daughter is both epic and achingly personal. Sci-fi backdrops rarely carry this much soul.
This book hit me in the gut. The way Gillen wrestles with his past and risks everything for his daughter is both epic and achingly personal. Sci-fi backdrops rarely carry this much soul.
August 6, 2025
One Small Step, One Giant Leap for Fatherhood
Allaire’s journey to the moon is bold, but it’s Gillen’s emotional leap that truly moved me. His story is a reminder that sometimes saving someone else is the only way to save yourself.
Allaire’s journey to the moon is bold, but it’s Gillen’s emotional leap that truly moved me. His story is a reminder that sometimes saving someone else is the only way to save yourself.
February 26, 2024
This book really exceeds my expectation! The combination of sci-fi and romance makes this book very enjoyable to read. All the places and settings are very well-described. The characters' dilemma, sadness, as well as hope is easily felt by the readers too. I truly enjoy the surprises, mysteries, suspense, and romance in this book. There is always something going on and it turns out to be completely different than what I’ve predicted. Halfway through the book, I really cannot put it down. The author's imagination is incredible.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews