During the spring of 1918 on the Western Front, an accident occurred involving a large reconnaissance balloon with its two forward observers. The accident resulted in the large balloon breaking free from its mooring and was adrift to the east over German held territory. The accident was no fault of the observers, but for several reasons the U.S. Army declared that the observers were deserters. The story Balloonatics is about these two observers and their fate due to being set adrift over hostile territory as well as being wanted by the allies for desertion. They were in the precarious position of being shot by the enemy or being shot by the allies as deserters. Tom Norton has authored books ranging in genres from autobiographic, historic, adventure, social science as well as science fiction. This novel is early twentieth century fiction taking place during a historical event that occurred at a time in history that no one on earth is now alive to remember. A time of war when leather, wood, cast iron and coal oil, were the materials of the day and steam locomotives, steamships, horses and mules were the transportation.