import re


def format_author_name(author_name):
    """Format the author name (string) as N Benabderrazik. If there are 
    multiple first names it would be: A B FamilyName where A and B are 
    the first letters of the respective first names.
    """
    # Keep only strings before an opening parenthesis (e.g. discard (Montpellier))
    author_name = re.sub(r"\(.*$", "", author_name)
    
    # Keep only word characters
    author_name = re.findall(r"[\w']+", author_name)
    
    # Turn the first names to initials and keep the family name as is
    author_name = [author_name[i][0] if i < len(author_name)-1 else author_name[i] 
              for i in range(len(author_name))]
    
    return " ".join(author_name)