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Almost didn't attempt, it looked like a toughie. But managed to establish a base camp at the bottom of the grid, and made steady progress until I identified the thematic work, which then meant I could complete the grid without solving all the down clues.

No idea what significance there is to the order of the across clues.

Nice to complete a puzzle after a run of failures.

Dim, if you don't know why the across clues are in that order, you haven't fallen into Cagey's trap. Well done, you!

Hi RHSL

I guess your comment will make sense when I see the solution!

Thanks

Dim

look at first letters of your across answers in entry order ...

I am finding this a bit of a struggle. I have solved 12 across clues, but not been able to enter any of them and 9 down clues. It would be useful to know whether the starred, obelisked and circled letters are in order. Also, I can see a way of completing the bottom three rows with creatures all of the same kind, in alphabetical order. Does this sound as though I am on the right lines?

Sounds like you are more or less on right track ( 'all the same' doesn't exactly fit)... indicated cells are not neccessarily in order ...

Of the circled letters the first 3 appear consecutively but the others are not in order. The obelisked letters appear in the appropriate sequence but the asterisked ones do not.

I have finished the grid, got the title and creators. But I am struggling with 8dn. I have the jumbled form all explained and fitting in but I can't find the unjumbled word. This is making me worried that one of my entries is wrong and I'm going through all the across clues tying them up with the entries - which is quite hard work. A hint to the plaintext for 8dn would ease my mind.
Brilliant puzzle though.

The plaintext for 8d could also mean preserved, raggedy

Thanks dodgepot. I had an O for the fourth letter which made the entry wrong and also explained 10 dn not unjumbling as well. Also solves one of the across clues which I was struggling to tie in.