Agnes Horvath has written about politics, sociology and the social functions of tricksters and other subversive forces. She appears well qualified to discuss the social function of magic, especially if, as the title of her book suggests, this function is associated with the social function of science. Magic and science are socially significant in pursuit of advantage through arcane knowledge and, usually, forces unperceived by the laity. The only problem with the title is that magic is a thing, while the ‘will to science’ is presumably a human psychological state. Is Horvath comparing apples with a lust for oranges? Surely in the course of this book, all will be made clear. Unfortunately, all is not made clear.