How to start preview from command line and get back to the terminal when I press ESC?
Solution 1:
You could use qlmanage instead.
/usr/bin/qlmanage -p file1.pdf file2.pdf file3.pdf
This will open the files in quicklook.
You can then use escape or the space bar which will close the quicklook previews and be back in terminal since it is the active app.