Sure. 'The Diamond Age' is a good start. It's not overly complex in terms of its clockpunk elements but still gives a great sense of what the genre is about. You get to see these amazing technological devices that are based on clockwork principles within a story that's easy to follow.
I'd also recommend 'The Steampunk Bible' by Jeff VanderMeer and S. J. Chambers. It's not a novel in the traditional sense but more of a guide to steampunk which includes a lot about clockpunk. It has great illustrations and explanations that can help a beginner understand the concepts, and it also lists many novels in the genre.
Some of the best clockpunk novels include 'The Diamond Age' by Neal Stephenson. It features a world where nanotechnology and Victorian - like society intersect in a very interesting way. The technology in it, like the 'prentice engines', has a clockwork - like feel which is typical of clockpunk.
For a beginner, you can't go wrong with Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. It's the origin of the modern Dracula concept. It's easy to follow and really sets the mood for vampire stories. Another good one is 'The Dracula Tape' by Fred Saberhagen. It tells the story from Dracula's point of view, which is really interesting and gives a different take on the whole Dracula thing.
Sure. 'Diablo: Demonsbane' is a good choice for beginners. It has a relatively straightforward story that is easy to follow. It's full of battles against demons which is a staple of the Diablo world. You can quickly get a sense of the dark and dangerous atmosphere of the Diablo universe through this novel.
Another good one for beginners is 'Dune Messiah'. It's not as overwhelming as some of the later books in terms of complexity. It gives a good continuation of the story started in 'Dune' and helps you understand the characters better.
You could also check out 'Deathwatch: First Founding'. It provides a bit of background on the Deathwatch's origins, which can be really helpful for someone new to these novels.
I'd recommend 'Rabbit, Run'. It's a good starting point as it's very engaging. The story of Rabbit's escapades and his search for something more in life is easy to follow and gives a great sense of Updike's writing style.
Sure. 'Relics' is a good start. It's relatively easy to follow and gives a good sense of Picard's character. The story isn't overly complicated and it has some really cool moments with the discovery of an ancient object.
Sure. 'The Fall of Reach' is a great start. It's not too complex and gives you a good foundation of the Halo universe, like who the Spartans are and what they're up against.
Sure. 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' would be a great start. It's a semi - autobiographical novel that is relatively easy to follow and really gives you a sense of Baldwin's writing style and his preoccupation with themes like race, family, and faith.
Sure. 'Skavenslayer' is a great start. It's easy to follow and gives a good introduction to the Skaven race.