You should have given us some examples of what your mother usually reads, that
would have helped a lot. As a result I also would recommend short story
as that really might be the best way to get into SF and to find authors
she likes.
Nonetheless here are some books I would recommend, books that are not
too far off from mainstream and not burdened by to much technology,
for example Daniel Keyes 'Flowers for Algernon', the story of
a 'mind-challenged' (PC-speak) man who volunteers for an experimental
treatment to enhance intelligence.
(*SPOILERS*)
The treatment works, he gets more intelligent day by day until he hits
genius-level, but eventually they find out its only temporary and he
has to cope with his declining intelligence.
(*SPOILERS OFF*)
The story is told through a diary written by Charly, first filled with
errors and a childlike naivete, later grasping more and more about the
world around him. It's an SF classic and was made into a movie named 'Charly'.
Or there is Walter M. Miller Jr. 'Cantile for Leibowitz' about a religious
quest in a postapocalyptic future.
Ken Grimwood's 'Replay' is about a man who relives part of his life again
and again (you may say a 'groundhog decade') and tries to make the best out
of it. A character study.
There is Stanislav Lem for satire, for example 'The futurolocial congress'
or 'Cyberiada'
If a little more adventure SF is wanted, Alexei Panshin 'Rite of Passage' is
a good introduction, about a girl living in a spaceship coming of age by
having to stay alive on a planet.
Someone suggested Bujold. That is excellent space opera, but I wouldn't give
her a Vorkosigan book to start with. Better would be 'Shards of Honor' which
is her first book anyway, has a female protagonist and a strong
romance element in it.
Brin's 'Startide Rising' is also the wrong choice IMHO, if Brin is wanted.
SR is part of a loose series and has lots of technobabble in it. Better
suited would be 'Glory Season', a SF fantasy mix about a young woman in a
matriarchal society based on cloning. A lot is happening but the violent parts
occur offstage.
Another book with a religious motive is Maria Doria Russells 'The Sparrow'
about a priest trying to find out why his predecessor in a first-contact
mission was killed by the seemingly peaceful aliens
And for an interesting libertarian utopia she might read Ursula K. Le Guin's
'The Dispossessed'.
A fantasy SF mix is Joan D. Vinge's 'Snow Queen' a retelling of the fairy tale
in a totally different setting. Not necessarily a light read.
Holger.
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