An Cosantóir

reviews | 35 ILLUSTRATED BOOK THE FCA - AN HISTORY Authors: Denis Carroll, Michael Deegan, Marie Hennessy, Stephen Kelly & William Sheehan Publisher: The History Press, Ireland Price: RRP €20.00 (Website €18.00) Publication Date: October 2011 ISBN: 9781845887186 www.thehistorypress.ie THIS BOOK IS an illustrated history of the FCA, its members and its work, captured in images are the people and their dedication to what became an important part of Defence Forces history. The book starts off in the 1940s with an introduction about how the FCA evolved from originally the Local Security Force (LSF) assisting the Garda Síochána and then becoming the Local Defence Force (LDF) in 1941. Then in 1946, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) was established, providing the Defence Forces with a volunteer reserve force, which at one time numbered over 100,000. In 2005, the FCA was renamed Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) and was an integral part of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). Members of the FCA have participated in training and military exercises and it was an integral part of life around Ireland during its existence for a great many people. The book also contains an illustrated appendix of unit flashes. MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Director: Joss Whedon Writers: Joss Whedon (screenplay), Zak Penn (story) Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi Certification: Run Time: 2 Hrs 23 Mins Rental Release Date: 17 Sept 2012 Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård and Scarlett Johansson DVD CLAIMED AS THE best action superhero movie of all time – and it certainly doesn't disappoint, it's a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes. When Nick Fury (Jackson), the director of an international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., encounters an unexpected enemy that threatens global safety and security, he finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins for Earth's mightiest heroes. Iron Man (Downey Jr.), Captain America (Evans), The Incredible Hulk (Ruffalo), Thor (Hemsworth), and two of the world's greatest assassins, Black Widow (Johansson) and Hawkeye (Renner), must assemble to defeat Loki (Hiddleston), the darkest villain the Earth has ever known. http://marvel.com/avengers_movie ABSOLUTION GAME HITMAN HITMAN ABSOLUTION FOLLOWS Agent 47, a cold blooded assassin, who takes on his most dangerous and personal contract to date. Betrayed by those he trusted and hunted by the police, he finds himself at the centre of a dark conspiracy and must embark on a personal journey through a corrupt and twisted world, in his search for the truth. Showcasing IO Interactive's new proprietary Glacier 2 technology, the game has been built from the ground up, boasting a cinematic story, distinctive art direction and highly original game design. Hitman Absolution combines much loved classic gameplay with completely new gameplay features for the Hitman franchise. One new key feature is - Blend In: Impersonate your victims and hide in plain site. A huge variety of disguises offer you deep strategies, new options, and the element of surprise. So what kind of Hitman are you? http://hitman.com Genre: Shoot 'Em Up - Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC - PEGI: 18 - Price: €49.97 (PC €27.97)(gamestop.ie) - Released: 20 Nov 2012 - © 2012 IO Interactive, Eidos & Square Enix Ltd. All Rights Reserved. www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

• Cover