| 100% | OCTAVIAEBUTLER | 14 | First science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship |
| 62% | OCTAVIABUTLER | 13 | First science-fiction writer to be awarded a MacArthur grant |
| 61% | OCTAVIABUTLER | 13 | First science-fiction author to receive a MacArthur “genius” grant |
| 36% | CRONKITE | 8 | First person outside NASA to receive a moon-rock award, 2006 |
| 36% | COMANECI | 8 | First Olympic gymnast to receive a 10 |
| 35% | DOTHEBRIGHTTHING | 16 | Film about how to win a MacArthur Fellowship? |
| 34% | DEAN | 4 | First person to receive a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor nomination |
| 33% | LEM | 3 | Science fiction writer Stanislaw |
| 33% | POHL | 4 | Science fiction writer Frederik |
| 33% | BEN | 3 | Science fiction writer Bova |
| 33% | ISAAC | 5 | Science fiction writer Asimov |
| 33% | ASIMOV | 6 | Science fiction writer Isaac |
| 33% | COLLECT | 7 | To receive a payment |
| 33% | EBERT | 5 | First movie critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |
| 32% | CYRIL | 5 | Science fiction writer ___ M. Kornbluth |
| 31% | CLARKE | 6 | Arthur ___; English science fiction writer |
| 31% | EGAN | 4 | Australian science fiction writer Greg |
| 31% | FANTASIZE | 9 | What science fiction writers do |
| 31% | EYELET | 6 | Hole to receive a lace |
| 31% | CHIANG | 6 | Science fiction writer Ted with four Hugo awards |
| 31% | CHIANG | 6 | Award-winning science fiction writer Ted |
| 30% | ANTE | 4 | Pay to receive a poker hand |
| 30% | BUYONE | 6 | How to receive a freebie, perhaps |
| 30% | ABE | 3 | Only prez to receive a patent |
| 30% | SPA | 3 | Place to receive a mani-pedi |
| 30% | ANTE | 4 | Cost to receive a poker hand |
| 30% | ROBERT | 6 | __ Heinlein, the dean of science fiction writers |
| 30% | LUELLA | 6 | ___ Bates, first woman truck driver to receive a New York driver's license (1920) |
| 30% | EBERT | 5 | The first film critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |
| 30% | WARPSPEED | 9 | Science-fiction velocity ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters |