i like sci-fi stories 

War and Peace. It's very long, but pretty good.

I have to say that I love Hemingway though. He's probably my favorite author. I've read every finished short story of his and prior to War and Peace I read For Whom the Bell Tolls which was just a great, great book. 

Possibly the only H G Wells novel that could make it to the silver screen without being FUBARed.

Basically, it's about a chap on a cycling holiday (despite never riding a bicycle before in his life) who has some rather interesting experiences. The only beef I have is that Wells' chosen narrative voice is too self-conscious at times.