The problem with this subsector of history is that it is dominated by a fairly insular group associated with the University of Chicago and a few other first-rate schools. They are brilliant people, no doubt, but they have allowed themselves to developed a fairly tight canon of works and a pretty homogeneous cadre. They restrict membership through an old-scholar-network and with a shared, elitist vocabulary. Woe to those who should challenge their conclusions or try to enter their ranks without proper vetting. The wagons circle quckly. Unfortunately I think this has backfired. I honestly think a major reason the market for history of science jobs has tanked is because the sub-discipline has pissed off so many other scholars in more general fields. The gods have screwed over their own protoges by doing so. Nineveh is fallen, who shall mourn her?
