What book of magic (or fantasy) would you recommend?

Hi there. Have a look at Julian May's books, i.e. The Saga of the Exiles (first book: Many Coloured Land). It starts off as a story about maverick people in the future who find a gateway to escape into the pliocene past (from where they can never return to their present - well, not in one piece, anyway) where they meet with a charismatic alien race who have dark secrets and 'enslave' them. I was totally pulled into the story and loved the whole series. Hope you enjoy too.