Space Magic: A Brainstorming Thread

So, I have this idea that I'm trying to get a novel (or more than one novel) out of. I have a basic notion for a setting but I'm having trouble narrowing it down to a specific plot and coming up with specific characters.

The basic concept is that the universe runs on magic. We here on Earth are an exception; our section of space is in a magical deadzone. Because of this, we don't believe magic exists, and we've never encountered alien life because all their ships run on magic, so they never come anywhere near here.

But Earth, lacking magic, develops science. In the far future, they develop faster-than-light travel, and leave the deadzone. The story is, in broad strokes, about humans learning of the existence of magic, and alien cultures learning about what can be done without magic, and how this is going to affect everyone.

I have some additional ideas that I'll get to in a bit, when I'm more awake, but those are the basics. Most of what I have is worldbuilding, though, and I'm trying to get from there to a plot and character arcs.

Note that, since I intend to make an actual novel out of this, (and probably a whole series because, obviously, there's a lot to explore in a whole dang universe) there may be ideas talked about in this thread that will be significant plot developments. If you have confidence in my ability to finish this and would like to be surprised by what these ideas are, then you may not want to follow this thread too closely.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the setting; I may not have answers right away, but they'll be useful for me to think about.