"The music-room in the Governor's House at Port Mahon, a tall, handsome, pillared octagon, was filled with the triumphant first movement of Locatelli's C major quartet."

With these words millions of readers have discovered the work of Patrick O'Brian, the twenty novels of the 'Aubreyad' chronicling the voyages of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin through the shoals and deep water of friendship, love, war and life.

The Gunroom is the home for a group of O'Brian's readers who enjoy discussion of O'Brian's works through the list GUNROOM@HMSSURPRISE.ORG. Here we share insights and information about the British Navy and nautical world of the 1800s, obsolete and unfamiliar language, Maturin's medicine, natural history, politics, geography and history to enhance our enjoyment and understanding of the books and characters.

We also discuss O'Brian's other novels, short stories, interviews, book reviews, biography and early writings under the name of Patrick Russ.

• Early novels written as Patrick Russ: Caesar, Hussein
• Novels written as Patrick O'Brian: Testimonies (Three Bear Witness), The Catalans (The Frozen Flame), The Golden Ocean, The Unknown Shore, Richard Temple
• Non-Fiction: Picasso, Joseph Banks, Men of War
• Collections of short stories: The Rendezvous, The Last Pool, The Walker, Lying in the Sun, The Chian Wine.

Our community includes resources and links to other O'Brian sites, original stories set in O'Brian's world, art, recipes, humor, book-by-book notes, discussion of O'Brian's short stories, and pages that support our Lissun community.

Visitors are welcome to sail on our pages and share a glass of cyberwine with new friends while discussing our favorite books.