Harry Collins and Trevor Pinch liken science to the Golem, a creature
from Jewish mythology, powerful yet potentially dangerous, a gentle,
helpful creature that may yet run amok at any moment. Through a series
of intriguing case studies the authors debunk the traditional view that
science is the straightforward result of competent theorisation,
observation and experimentation. The very well-received first edition
generated much debate, reflected in a substantial new Afterword in this
second edition, which seeks to place the book in what have become known
as 'the science wars'.