Book about flying house and a degenerating society.

[Gideonsword]

I am trying to remember a book whose main charachter is a young man living in a society that is apathetic and suicidal. Most people live in "flying" houses, and even have anti-gravity packs that many commit suicide with by breaking the "down" knob. The main characters chief hobby is watching a television chanel that features a computer generated picture of a young woman who transforms her "physique" due to input from the viewers. Can someone please help me find this book! I believe it is very salient to our society today. Thank you, Gideonsword.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I haven't read it all yet, but it isn't the holy machine by chris beckett?

 

[Gideonsword]

Thank you, but that wasn't it. It is funny how independent, but similar ideas form in literature, and this seems to be one of them. In the book I am trying to identify, the "girl" is totally c.g. and she is not really a main charachter, merely a "diversion" charachter. Again, thank you for your help. Gideonsword

 

[PaulMmn]

I remember a short story in ANALOG magazine 5-8 years ago (I'm 5 years behind in my reading; that's why I remembered it!) that had an over-populated Earth. There are still parks that you can visit (I think you had to win a lottery). I don't remember how you got them, but there were anti-gravity packs and people did commit suicide by flying 'up' forever...
Sorry, but although I remember the story, I don't remember the title or author. ):
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--Paul E Musselman