Sure. 'The Martian' by Andy Weir is a great start. It's about an astronaut stranded on Mars, and while it doesn't have a lot of traditional 'alien' encounters, it gives a good sense of the vastness of space. Another beginner - friendly one is 'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham. It has these strange, plant - like alien creatures that start to take over the world. It's an easy read with an interesting concept.