Like several here, I've been lurking since the early 2000s; pretty sure I've read (and re-read) just about the whole archive more than a few times over the years. Chronological order seems to be the majority vote, and I feel no real need to rock the boat on that.

Though, imho, I feel it helps to have at least a little knowledge of the source material tucked into the universe you're about to get sucked into; Eris knows I had zero-clue about 90% of it when I started. Now, nearly two full decades later, I've a much better grasp on it. Of course, nearly every character from those canons that the UF-verse draws from are pretty much unrecognizable from where they started, but I like that about this series; it showcases tangible character growth.

Even if all you do is look up wiki entries for context, its a start; you don't HAVE to delve into the dozens upon dozens of different worlds UF taps for inspiration or characters. And who knows? Maybe you'll find more worlds to love and stories to explore in the process.