So,I think a list like this needs a "classic". But this is for "beginners" (is that new to the genre? New to reading at all? New to adult books?). Classics can be good but can leave a bad taste if the racism or sexism fairy has visited too much Much as I'd love to say Frankenstein for the classic, I think we probably need to consider something more modern style (but still "classic" It means I'm probably torn between Wyndham's The Chrysalids and Butler's Parable of the Sower >>>