Marais’ “The Cure” is an elegantly erudite novel with compelling prose.  It recounts a man's mental journey, far from home; Robert has distanced himself from California and unusual academic troubles.  Seeking the cure to his life so far, he has moved to Wiesbaden, Germany, long known for its curative waters—which at first he just dabbles with. Slowly, though, the waters become the driving force of his existence...There is a mood and scope that reminds me somewhat of “The Illuminatus Trilogy.”  But everything in “The Cure” is more personal, and seems far more reasonable, and reasoned, until we ourselves are steeped in full-blown delirium and wonder where (or whether) we lost our way. Of course, it’s easy to blame the water.