FAQs
How do I join or leave the list or change my subscription settings?
How do I view the list archives?
Are there any rules in the Gunroom?
I need to contact a person - to whom can I write?
What is the history of the Gunroom?
Why the "Gunroom" rather than the "Wardroom"?
What companion books are available?
What's this book "Clarissa Oakes"? Is it another book in the series?
How do I join or leave the list or change my subscription settings?
You can join the list via our Mailman information page.
If you are subscribed, you can leave the list quickly by sending a message to gunroom-leave@hmssurprise.org from your subscribed address.
There is also a Gunroom access and settings page, which might help if you are having problems. It also explains how to change your subscription settings.
How do I view the list archives?
There is a searchable Hyperkitty archive, going back to very near the start of the list in October 1995. You will need to be a member of the list to visit the archive and will have to sign in to view it. List members can also post new messages from here. If you either i) joined the list without creating an ID or ii) are a Gunroom subscriber who was moved to the latest version of the list automatically from the previous one, you will have to create a user ID and password to view and post from the archives.
Are there any rules in the Gunroom?
The Gunroom is an unmoderated list. There are, however, some guidelines that members are politely asked to follow. The most important of these is that we don't discuss politics or religion.
I need to contact a person - to whom can I write?
If you need help from a person about the e-mail list, send a message to gunroom-owners@hmssurprise.org.
For suggestions or corrections regarding this website rather than the list, contact webmaster@hmssurprise.org.
What is the history of the Gunroom?
The history of the gunroom describes the story of the Gunroom.
What is a rolling toast?
Adam Quinan has written a page on the rolling toast.
Why the "Gunroom" rather than the "Wardroom"?
Don Seltzer has explained of why this isn't the Wardroom of HMSSurprise.org.
What is "the Canon"?
"The Canon" is a Gunroom term referring to the 20 novels in the Aubrey/ Maturin series.
What is a "lissun"?
A "lissun" is any member of this discussion group. Also referred to as "listswain."
What companion books are available?
- Men-Of-War: Life in Nelson's Navy by Patrick O'Brian
- Jack Aubrey Commands: An Historical Companion to the Naval World of Patrick O'Brian by Brian Lavery
- Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World by Richard O'Neill (Editor)
- Lobscouse and Spotted Dog, Which It's a Gastronomic Companion to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels by Anne Chotzinoff Grossman and Lisa Grossman
- A Sea of Words by Dean King, John Hattendorf and J. Worth Estes
- Harbors and High Seas by Dean King and John Hattendorf
- The Patrick O'Brian Muster Book: Persons, Animals, Ships and Cannon in the Aubrey-Maturin Sea Novels by lissun Anthony Gary Brown (a previous edition of the book is sometimes referred to in The Gunroom by its acronym PASC)
- The Making of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World by Tom McGregor
- Patrick O'Brian: The Making of the Novelist by Nikolai Tolstoy
- Patrick O’Brian: A Very Private Life by Nikolai Tolstoy
- Patrick O'Brian: A Life Revealed by Dean King
Also, the late Bruce Trinque assembled a a list of POB companion books (Wayback Machine) on the Amazon.com website.
What is a "Group Read?"
Some time ago, serious O'Brian fans made concerted effort to read through the entire Patrick O'Brian oevre, discussing one book per month (with minor catch-up allowances as required). This may happen again one day.
If you'd like to read our previous groupread discussions, they are archived at http://jfinnera.www1.50megs.com/pob.html and you can click on each book.
This effort follows an inordinately successful groupread of the short stories, which are archived at the same location. If we run a groupread again, please join us at any point. Our only request is that you put "groupread" and an abbreviated title of the book into the header, so our archivist(s) will have an easier time separating out these posts.
What is this book "Clarissa Oakes"? Is it another book in the series?
Clarissa Oakes is the British title for The Truelove (#15).
I like the Aubrey Arms that appears on the home page. Can you tell me more about it? Is it available on merchandise?
We have a page explaining more about the Aubrey Arms. The Arms are available on a variety of items as part of the Gunroom logo at The Gunroom CafePress Store.