Elon Musk's Sweet Mars Delusion

As the world's descending into a murderous medieval madness, it's no surprise that many seek an escape. With nowhere to hide, Musk's Mars seems like an increasingly alluring idea. But is it, really?

Yevgeny Zamyatin, the author of the Russian science-fiction novel that is said to have inspired "1984"—"We"—wrote, 'True literature can exist only where it is created, not by diligent functionaries but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels, and skeptics,' and I guess the same is true for every genuine innovator.

Is one of them just an E.T. long…