| 100% | GAY | 3 | Peterkin —, survivor, with Ralph Rover and Jack Martin, of a shipwreck in R M Ballantyne novel The Coral Island |
| 36% | DRAGONS | 7 | "A Dance with ___," fifth novel in the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin |
| 31% | ACLASHOFKINGS | 13 | Second novel in the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin: 4 wds. |
| 31% | STORMOF | 7 | "A ___ Swords," third novel in the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin: 2 wds. |
| 30% | BALLANTYNE | 10 | R M —, author of adventure novels The Young Fur Traders and The Coral Island |
| 28% | IBELIEVEICANFLY | 15 | R. Kelly hit whose last title word is aptly rhymed with "sky" in the lyrics ... and a hint to the starts of the other four longest puzzle answers |
| 27% | FIJI | 4 | I'm an island country in the South Pacific Ocean with a white dove and lion on my flag |
| 27% | WRINKLEINTIME | 13 | With "A," classic science fantasy novel, and a feature of the theme answers |
| 27% | EYEOFTHETIGER | 13 | 1982 hit for Survivor with a sign of the Chinese zodiac in its title: 4 wds. |
| 27% | BYATT | 5 | A S —, author of the novels Still Life and The Virgin in the Garden |
| 27% | ELLORY | 6 | R J —, author of novels City of Lies and A Quiet Belief in Angels |
| 26% | UNGAVA | 6 | 1858 novel by R M Ballantyne subtitled A Tale of Esquimaux-Land |
| 26% | TAB | 3 | "Ola! I'm a dupe of cola! I hit the market in 1963 and I'm synonymous with a can opener" |
| 26% | TARBABY | 7 | 1981 novel about the interplay of privilege and poverty in a Caribbean romance |
| 26% | FORSTER | 7 | E M —, author of novels Howards End and A Room with a View |
| 26% | ONCEISNOTENOUGH | 15 | Jacqueline Susann novel, and the problem with some of the answers in this puzzle |
| 26% | SPUR | 4 | "Ola! I'm ___ cola, a dupe of cola! I was launched in 1948 and I'm synonymous with the San Antonio NBA team" |
| 26% | THEWORLD | 8 | & 2D 1860 novel by R M Ballantyne subtitled The Whaling Cruise of The Dolphin |
| 26% | LEWYCKA | 7 | Marina —, author of the novels Two Caravans and A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian |
| 25% | BLACK | 5 | With 41- and 43-Across, cop cruiser ... or a description of the five animals named in this puzzle |
| 25% | SHETLANDPONY | 12 | Sturdy breed of small horse originating in the UK with a long shaggy mane and tail |
| 25% | BOFA | 4 | Financial institution with a stylized version of the Stars and Stripes in its logo, for short |
| 25% | THEWESTWING | 11 | A political drama that debuted in the 90s, starring the likes of Rob Lowe and Martin Sheen: 3 wds. |
| 25% | CASCA | 5 | Roman soldier in a series of novels by Barry Sadler beginning with 1979's The Eternal Mercenary |
| 25% | HOWIWISH | 8 | With 94- and 72-Across, a mnemonic for the first eight digits of [symbol in the middle of the grid] |
| 25% | AMYANDISABELLE | 14 | Elizabeth Strout novel set in the fictional town of Shirley Falls about a mother and daughter (3 wds.) |
| 25% | DANCEMONKEY | 11 | 2019 hit for Tones and I with a sign of the Chinese zodiac in its title: 2 wds. |
| 25% | SWISSFAMILYROBINSON | 19 | Classic novel subtitled "Adventures in a Desert Island," with "The" |
| 25% | DUNLIN | 6 | Small wading bird with a slightly down-curved bill that breeds in the uplands of Scotland, Wales and England |